Kisumu scrap metal dealers appeal for ban lift

Lift the ban on scrap metal as you roll out the regulations, Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association (KISMA) Kisumu branch has appealed to the government.

The Association through the branch chairman Evans Koech asked the government to consider their plight and allow those who have paid for licenses to start operations.

Koech thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for efforts to draw a roadmap to the full resumption of the business by giving guidelines on lifting the January Moratorium.

He noted that the compliance will not be at per as some dealers may not afford the cash required to pay for the licenses because the moratorium fond them with a lot of stock and they haven’t sold anything hence don’t have the capacity to apply for the licenses.

“We would like to request the President to open for those who have applied for licenses for them to start their work as the others comply”.

Addressing a press conference in Kisumu, Koech said they are ready to comply but those who are quick to comply should be allowed to start operations.

He singled out the boda boda sector which is being regulated but the riders are allowed to resume business as they comply.

Koech said their members have suffered for the last two months the ban has been in place and the government should consider their plea.

He said the construction sector has suffered from ballooning costs of building materials, especially steel, a product of scrap metal as a raw material.

Everline Egesa, secretary of the branch said the Moratorium left many traders with the raw materials heaped on their yards.

Egesa said the traders will only pay the licenses when they are in business.

“As people continue paying licenses, kindly open the business for us so that we can continue selling and paying the license at the same time,” she said.

Egesa added that they are law-abiding citizens and have not gone to the streets like other sectors to push the government to lift the ban unconditionally.

She said the sector employs thousands of people directly and indirectly and the continued ban will have serious ramifications on the economy.