Traders at the Daraja Mbili market in Kisii town on June 1, 2025./PHOTO:KNA
Traders at Daraja Mbili market in Kisii town have discredited the poor state of the facility despite ongoing efforts by the county government to modernize the market.
Businessmen and women have cited poor sanitation, congestion, and lack of security for business premises as the major challenges, noting that upgrades like modern stalls and expanded parking have failed to address their concerns.
“We are struggling with uncollected garbage, and customers are avoiding the market because of the strong stench coming from the place,” lamented Cecilia Moraa, a fruit vendor.
Mary Onsomu, a vegetable trader, added that congestion along the Kisii-Isebania highway has continued to put the lives of the traders at risk.
“We are now being compelled to sell our goods by the roadside, and this can be a major cause of accidents in the market,” she said.
In addition, security remains a concern, with traders reporting theft and vandalism of stalls due to poor lighting and weak surveillance.
“We are losing our goods, and no one is fixing the problem,” decried Joel Nyabwari, a shopkeeper stationed at the market.
Another vendor, Veronica Nyaboke, noted that heavy rains have worsened the condition of the market, making it harder to store and sell fresh produce.
Speaking separately, the County Director of Revenue, Zachary Nyaribo, said the county remains committed to upgrading the market and improving revenue collection in order to position the market for growth.
“Daraja Mbili market is evolving, and we are committed to sustainable improvements even as we address sanitation and congestion,” he said.
Nyaribo encouraged the traders to engage with the relevant authorities in airing out their grievances for ease of resolving disputes.
Despite the county government’s assurance to resolve the burning issues, the traders demanded urgent action on waste management and security concerns to safeguard businesses against collapsing.
