Political differences emerge in evictions

Political power games in Kisumu County threaten to derail plans to restore a public recreation park allegedly encroached upon by over 1,000 traders.

Oile market traders have since been evicted by the county government, sparking massive protests last Saturday.

The Standard has established that sharp divisions have emerged between Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and his deputy Ruth Odinga over the relocation.

The deputy governor wants the traders to stay put, contradicting Ranguma's position over the matter.

Police officers have pitched tent at the park and a perimeter fence erected to ward off the traders.

ORIGINAL STATURE

City Manager Doris Ombara has maintained there is no turning back in her resolve to restore the park to its original stature.

Stranded traders are now selling their wares along the Equator Bottlers' pavement but its is a matter of time before they are removed, sources said.

A section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have strongly opposed the "forceful eviction" of the traders.

Led by Market-Milimani Ward MCA Philip Anayo, the leaders termed the eviction as inhumane.

"If they had to be removed, then alternative space should have been provided immediately. The livelihood of the traders supersedes the interests by the county to restore the recreation park. Kisumu has several underutilised public recreation parks. I do not see the urgency. It is not the first park to be converted into a market. What needed to be done is gazetting it as a market," said Anayo.

EARLIER AGREEMENT

He accused the city manager of reneging on an earlier agreement with MCAs to increase the ultimatum notice from seven to 30 days.

But Ombara has maintained due process was followed after she obtained a court order to relocate over 1,000 traders operating at the allegedly encroached recreational park.

"The traders illegally occupied the park. It is not a market but a public recreation park. I cannot just sit and do nothing about it. We must make a decision for the Kisumu City we want," she said. 

She said the market was a health and security risk.

"The market was an open defecation area. At night it served as residence for street urchins and hideout for criminals. To save the residents from this health hazard, the recreation park must be restored and traders should occupy the empty space in Jubilee and Kibuye markets," she said.

But Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch, who has previously opposed similar attempts to relocate traders, yesterday said he would not support the governor on evicting the traders from Oile market.

"The governor has failed Kisumu very badly. Destroying people's livelihoods is not acceptable. It is very painful. Traders whose livelihoods have now been destroyed have loans they are servicing and all that they do for a living is gone. What happened is simply barbaric," lamented Olago. 

The county government plans to relocate some of the traders to Kowino in Nyalenda, Kosawo in Manyatta, Manyatta Open Air and Migosi markets that were constructed using World Bank funding.

The markets are currently underutilised and some stalls have been converted into homes.