Eldoret photographers oppose eviction from county headquarters

UASIN GISHU COUNTY: An association of photographers operating in front of the Uasin Gishu County government headquarters have petitioned the governors’ intervention after they abruptly barred from their operational area.

The photographers said they move was tantamount to sending them to economic oblivion given they were their families’ bread winners.

David Kemboi said he operated from the same area and consistently renewing the yearly license that recently rose from Sh1400 to Sh2500 for the last 18 years.

“There are nine of us and each one of us has employed an employee all of whom solely depend on this trade for economic sustenance,” he stated.

Kemboi said they were told to vacate the place by a council askari by noon before they were forcefully forced out by two.

“The officer told us we should go speak to the CECs in charge of Trade, Environment and the county secretary for the best way forward,” he explained.

He added that they were planning a petition on a certificate of urgency because the alternative-Nandi Gardens given by the CEC of trade is unconducive for business.

“We have client engagement, burial and wedding photos; what happens if they do not find us at our usual spot lest they think we are conniving,” he complained.

Ng’ang’a Ngugi said the authority had told them they wanted to plant flowers at what has been his base for the last six years yet he has a set of two children both in secondary and primary depending on him.

Hezekiah Mwangi who has been operating for the last 20 years revealed he also had  two children at the university  and another two in secondary  in additional to elderly parents all depending on him.

But Trade CEC Philip Meli said he had given the traders an alternative operational area and thus no cause for alarm.

“We cannot legislate laws against hawking and vending within the CBD and allow them the liberty to do so, it will be contradictory,” he exclaimed.

He said Environment and Road officials had raised complaints over the disorganization caused by the traders crowding at the County Government’s gate creating disorganization.

“It is just a normal operation cantered on restoring order and sanity in the CBD that affects all other vendors,” he said.

Former Turbo constituency aspirant Richard Kemboi urged to governor to be very cautious on such matters likely to impact negatively on his legacy.