Garissa Orahey market traders now ready to move to the Korane proposed modern marketplace

Ms Amina Daar during the interview at her stall in Orahey market. (Courtesy)

GARISSA—Section of Garissa fresh fruits and vegetable traders now say they are ready to move to the proposed marketplace build by the county government.

Speaking to Kulan Post, the traders said that they wouldn’t mind moving to the new prosed modern site, adding that it was part of previous agreement with Governor Ali Korane.

Amina Abdi Daar, the chairlady of the Orahey Market Committee stated that the governor, right after his inauguration, visited the market and formed a joint committee made up of the traders and county official to look into the mode of our movement from their current site to the new marketplace.

“Some of the women started trading here three decades ago. We always wanted to move away from the roads because roads are for cars,” she told Kulan Post.

Ms Amina added that the joint committee, after deliberations and sight visit, decided to agree to move.

“We are just waiting for the keys and we move,” she added.

Amina was referring to a new sh 75 million market structure constructed by the county government of Garissa.

During  the Eid prayers at General Mohamud grounds in Garissa, Governor Korane said the new market was ready.

“(The)new modern market that will end the roadside (stalls) and open air market activities that hampered traffic along the busy road,” the Governor said.

The market and its planned shifting is a contentious issue in Garissa politics pitting area legislator, Aden Duale and Governor Korane. Duale insists the road was paved with Constituency Development Fund (CDF) funds and that the traders have right to trade along the road.

He spoke days after section of the traders took to the streets to register their disappointment over the move.

Speaking in Garissa Town, Duale strongly opposed Governor Ali Korane’s proposals to relocate Qorahey market to a new site, saying the eviction is a scheme by the county government to put the land to a different use.

“Not a single trader will be evicted from Qorahey market. Not today or even tommorrow. The proposal from the county government is misplaced. I wish to differ with that proposal because I know how the market place will later be used for,” stated Duale.

Since then, the traders and the county government seem to have breached the impasse and are now ready to move to the new site when ready.