Senatorial aspirant donates Sh50,000 and 20 bags of cement to help traders rebuild their businesses
Kisumu senatorial aspirant and lawyer Fred Odumo Nying’uro has called on the county government and the National Police Service to explain the repeated fires at Kisumu Central Juakali Market and take measures to prevent further outbreaks.
Odumo accompanied by market chairman Jack Hussein made the call during a visit to the market, where traders are counting their losses following the latest fire.
He donated Sh50,000 and 20 bags of cement to support traders in rebuilding their businesses.
Addressing traders and residents, Odumo questioned why previous fires had not resulted in conclusive public reports explaining their causes and recommending measures to prevent a recurrence.
“Why have we never received a conclusive report from the county government and the National Police Service on the causes of these repeated fire outbreaks?” he asked.
He said the lack of clear findings had left traders worried about the safety of their businesses and the security of their investments.
Odumo called for thorough investigations into the latest fire and previous incidents, saying traders deserved answers and accountability from the relevant authorities.
He said the response should go beyond emergency assistance, urging the county government to introduce practical measures to protect businesses and prevent future fires.
“Traders cannot continue losing their property and livelihoods without clear answers from the authorities. There must be accountability and practical measures to prevent these incidents from recurring,” he said.
Call to formalise market
Odumo also linked the traders’ concerns to the pending Kisumu County Markets Bill, saying the proposed legislation offered an opportunity to improve the management and protection of local markets.
He pledged to petition the county government to gazette the Juakali area as a designated market, arguing that formal recognition would help establish a framework for protecting traders and addressing their concerns.
“I will petition the county government to gazette Juakali as a designated market so that our traders can also benefit from the protections envisaged under the pending Kisumu County Markets Bill,” he said.
He urged the county administration and members of the Kisumu County Assembly to consider the needs of informal traders as they deliberate on the proposed law.
The latest fire has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of traders who depend on daily sales to support their families and sustain their businesses.
Odumo said protecting small enterprises should be a priority, warning that repeated destruction of stock and business premises threatened household incomes and the wider economic wellbeing of affected families.
Odumo warns against clan-based politics
Separately, Odumo urged Kisumu residents to reject clan-based political mobilisation, saying leadership should be judged on competence, integrity and the ability to deliver results.
He said political campaigns should focus on solutions to residents’ problems rather than divisions based on clan identity.
“Leadership should be based on competence and merit, not clan politics. Our people need leaders who can deliver solutions to their problems and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
The senatorial aspirant urged voters to scrutinise the records, qualifications and performance of candidates seeking elective office, saying development and service delivery should take precedence over identity-based politics.
He said leaders should demonstrate a commitment to addressing residents’ everyday concerns, including business safety, protection of livelihoods and creating an environment in which small-scale traders can operate with confidence.
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