City Manager bans vendors from Kisumu CBD

By Peter Ochieng

Vendors have been banned from going-about-their business within the Kisumu Central Business District (CBD).

Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga says the decision was informed by the need to have traders move into the now completed Uhuru Business Park, and 12 other modern markets within the City.

Wanga noted that the city management has changed its strategies and will no longer confiscate goods from vendors, warning that those failing to adhere to the ban will face arrests and heavy fines.

Speaking during a meeting with the City inspectorate officials, Wanga also warned those keeping livestock in estates.

"Animals found loitering within the City will be confiscated and their owners fined Sh1,000 for each animal."

He directed the inspectorate team to conduct regular patrols along the airport road, in a move aimed at stopping animals from destroying tree seedlings planted along the airport corridor, as part of the city greening program.

According to the City Manager, two famous stages will soon be dismantled.

"The Kamas and Ahero Mowuok stages will be dismantled to help bring sanity in the traffic flow," said Abala Wanga.

Similarly, he announced that the street families menace in the CBD will be fully handled by 15th January, especially in areas around Oile and Taifa public parks, to do away what he termed as a security threat posed by the families.

In addition, Wanga put owners of cane hauling trailers on notice, saying they will have to pay a new tax to help in clearing cane garbage spilled on roads.

"Sugarcane trucks will pay at least Sh10,000 to facilitate the cleaning of the sugarcane waste left on the road."

The City Manager asked traders who have placed their stalls on top of drainges to remove them, urging traders at Kibuye market who are utilizing the space meant for the second phase construction, to only put up wooden stalls for easy transition when construction work starts in June.