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Council defies order to close Daraja Mbili market

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Published on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:59

Despite public health officials issuing closure order for Dajara Mbili Open Air Market in Kisii County on Tuesday, business went on as usual during market day yesterday. Kisii public health officer Francis Makau issued the notice to Kisii Municipal Council after it failed to meet certain requirements.

In his notice to Town Clerk William Chepkwony  Makau ordered for immediate closure of the second largest open air market in Western region after Kibuye in Kisumu until it complies.

The notice dated June 6  required the council to comply with provisions of regulation 16 (1) (b) of the food hygiene regulations made under the food, Drugs, and chemical substances Act Cap 254, laws of Kenya or else close the market.

The notice which came to effect on Tuesday has since seen little take place in the market which accommodates over 10,000 traders and buyers drawn from as far as Tanzania.

Speaking to the Star, Makau said that he took the decision to close the market because local authority officials had failed to honor an earlier statutory notice.

Makau yesterday maintained that that the market will remain closed until the council meets all the requirements. “We are not going to compromise the health of traders and buyers. The must honour the closure order or we take it to court,” Makau said. He said that his office will not allow any business to be conducted until the closure order is implemented to the letter.