Businessmen under the Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association (KISMA) banner have appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to reopen their business after losing Ksh800 million in two months.
Speaking during a meeting with their countrywide representatives on Tuesday, April 5, the members are demanding that they be allowed to resume scrap metal dealership, threatening to hold demonstrations.
They further appealed to the President to allow them operate for 60 days to clear the stock they already held before the ban was imposed on January 20.
"We have declared that we are ready to hit the streets because we have our Cabinet Secretary, Betty Maina, who has been very arrogant to us. Instead of helping us, she is just seated in the office.
"We want President Uhuru Kenyatta to help us. Our industry has collapsed and people are not constructing. The price of a bag of cement was Ksh500, now it is Ksh700. The metal was Ksh600 and is it Ksh1,300. When will our youth build their houses?" wondered a representative.
While chanting slogans, the dealers further claimed that some of the operators had taken loans but are now left with dead stock.
"Who should listen to our cries? Uhuru Kenyatta. Who should reopen our work? Uhuru Kenyatta.
"We have a very big problem and we are asking the government to remember us. It should consider this work. Those of us who have a license are asking the government to allow us to return to work. Some of us borrowed money to get the license. We ask the President to give us 60 days to sell the stock we have," the representative added.
In mid-January, Uhuru ordered the police to arrest and press treason charges against anyone caught vandalising national infrastructure projects.
He further argued that the scrap metals trade, which is valued at billions of shillings, was the main cause of vandalism that had affected several sectors including telecommunications, power and road infrastructure among others.
In March, the dealers reached out to the state claiming that they had followed the requirements to be allowed to operate their scrap metal businesses.
Soon after, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i announced that the trade would now be open to suppliers who apply and qualify for the new licenses.
He, however, warned that the lifting of the moratorium would solely depend on compliance with the state regulations. The directive is yet to be effected.
