By Primerose Omoto
The Ibiza market, known for its vibrant hub for local commerce with a diverse range of stalls selling foodstuff and household goods.
However, a recent attempt by the county council to relocate the traders from the Ibiza market to the new Diani market in Mvindeni has led to public uproar.
Vendors were forcefully chased away with goods being destroyed in the process.
County Council officers descended upon the Ibiza market citing violations related to goods display, permits and safety regulations.
As a result, they confiscated and destroyed stock owned by small-scale vendors along the roadside.
The traders expressed frustration, as many rely on the Ibiza stage market for their livelihoods.
Previous attempts to relocate have been challenging. Traders have expressed reasons such as costs of relocating i.e. renting space, setting up stalls and transporting goods as well as visibility, foot traffic and proximity to customers.
“Getting a stall at the Mvindeni market has been a challenge for some of us. In the meantime, we are losing business yet we have a steady traffic of customers at Ibiza. If they help us move we will move. But doing what they did yesterday is inhumane,” said Ali Mecha, a trader.
The incident highlights the need for better planning, clearer guidelines, communication and support between the county government and the traders.
In response to the incident Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo visited the site accompanied by CEC for Trade and Tourism Michael Mutua, the Chief officer Hassan Chuphi, Diani Municipality Manager Hamisi Mwandaro among other county officials to address irate traders in Ibiza Market in relations to the commotion.
Kombo apologized on behalf of the Governor Fatuma Achani to the business community.
“Governor Fatuma Achani and I are working to build mutual cooperation with the traders as it has always been in the previous days. To prevent future disputes I have issued a directive to the Department of Trade to form a task force composed of department officials and Ibiza traders to specifically tackle the issues related to business operations at the market,” he said.
Kombo promised to put an initiative in place to ensure open communication and collaborative problem-solving that should ultimately strengthen the relationship between the traders and the Kwale county administration.
Kwale residents took to the social media condemning the incident with others calling for immediate sacking of the county askaris for destroying trader’s goods at a time when the country is struggling economically.
