Traders at the Garissa market and activists have called for total transparency, fairness and accountability in the management and distribution of money collected during a funds drive.
On Monday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Health CS Aden Duale led a resource mobilisation event in support of the small-scale traders affected by a fire on June 23.
A total of Sh23.5 million was raised in support of the more than 4,000 small-scale traders affected by the blaze.
Speaking to the press in Garissa town, the activists called on those charged with the responsibility of distributing the money to ensure they carry out the exercise with integrity.
“We want to take this earliest opportunity first and foremost to thank the leaders and all those who participated in this noble course of raising funds for our small-scale traders who were affected by the unfortunate fire incident, ” Muktar Dahir said.
“Having said that, we want to warn those with intentions of diverting the funds and tell them that we will be closely watching and following unfolding events in regard to the funds.”
The activist regretted that a previous drive to help such victims had ended up in the hands of a few, saying it was wrong to take advantage of the plight of the poor for selfish gains.
Garissa Muhuri coordinator, Abdihakim Shurie, said the collection must be directed solely to the genuine victims.
“We don’t want to see monkey business being applied to these funds. Let those who lost their goods, stalls and means of livelihood benefit. And it should be done as quickly as possible. It would be a grave injustice if individuals or groups not affected by the tragedy were allowed to benefit,” Shurie said.
Speaking separately, Ambia Hussein, a trader who lost everything in the inferno, urged the relevant authorities to set up a credible, independent committee.
The team should comprise representatives from affected traders, human rights organisations, religious leaders and neutral stakeholders, to oversee the vetting and distribution process.
“Going forward, we will demand a full public accounting of the total funds collected, including a list of beneficiaries and the amounts disbursed to each. The traders affected must be the ones to benefit,” she added.
Leaders who attended the drive reiterated the calls that the funds must not be diverted.
Duale warned against attempts to misappropriate the funds, saying that the beneficiaries should be the traders at the market.
Mandera North MP Bashir Abdullahi said, “We gathered here for a noble cause and we are grateful to Allah that we managed to raise a substantial figure for our small-scale traders, the majority of whom are mothers who were affected by the fire. Going forward, we don’t want to start getting complaints from the traders.”
Garissa Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane, President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet and majority leaders, Kimani Ichung’wah (National Assembly) and Aaron Cheruiyot (Senate), also attended the fundraiser.
Others were Adan Keynan (Eldas), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West), Yakub Adow (Bura), Mohamed Abdi (Lafey), Mohamed Adow (Wajir South), Umulkheir Harun (nominated), Abdi Sirat (nominated) Farah Maalim (Dadaab), Abdi Ali (Ijara), Abdikadir Hussein (Lagdera), Ali Wario (Garsen) and Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache).
The market has burnt multiple times in recent years, with the June fire being the sixth since 2010.
The causes of the fires have not been definitively established in many cases. However, they are mostly suspected to be a result of an electrical fault, arson or fire emanating from eateries.
