Homa Bay’s Soko Mjinga traders suffer huge losses due to floods

Homa Bay,Tuesday, April 25, 2023,

K.N.A By Brian Odhiambo

The business community in Soko Mjinga market within Homa Bay Town is counting huge losses after floods swept their property yesterday afternoon.

The floods affected over 70 stalls and shops at the market used by the traders as their stores.

Speaking to the press at the market, the Chairman of Soko Mjinga business community, Joshua Ouma said they had suffered the floods menace every rainy season yet no leader had come to their aid.

Ouma, who has resided at the market for more than 30 years accused Homa Bay County leadership of neglecting the market and threatened to mobilize traders to stop paying taxes from next week if the Gladys Wanga administration fail to take any action to address the problem.

“Soko Mjinga has been abandoned by our leaders for a long time. Even if fire breaks out in this market, they never bother to respond,” said Ouma and requested the county government to come to their aid this time.

“I want to call upon our Governor Gladys Wanga and her Deputy Oyugi Magwanga to visit us so that they can see exactly what we are going through and rescue us,’’ stated the Chairman.

He added that the market acts as a wholesale one in the region with traders from the nearby towns including Mbita, Rodi, and Rangwe buying goods from it in bulk.

Ouma said the market, if well managed, can be the greatest source of revenue for Homa Bay County government.

A trader Yvon Atieno lamented that she lost tomatoes worth Sh30 000 to the floods and blamed the situation to the poor drainage system.

Atieno called on the government to intervene and ensure the drainage systems are properly done.

She added that apart from the floods, they often suffer losses from livestock that roamed the market destroying their wares.

Courtesy K.N.A