Traders in Kilifi County on Thursday, February 25, abandoned the Ksh32.8 million Gongoni market that was launched by Governor Amason Jeffa Kingi on June 27, 2020.
Reports indicate that the traders opted to sell at the open field adjacent to the market to protest what they termed as exorbitant fee charged by the county government for market space.
"Traders who operate hotels within the market have to part with Ksh5,000 as monthly remittance to the county government," a trader stated.
The traders felt shortchanged by the county government which they claim favored wholesalers as they are allowed to operate on the open field.
According to the businessmen and women, the majority of Kilifi residents opt to buy goods at the open field as opposed to heading to the market.
The market has a capacity of 146 stalls, which include 114 grocery shops, 15 fish shops, eight eateries and nine general shops.
During the launch, governor Kingi affirmed that the market would boost opportunities and favor the local traders.
“Despite the fact that Gongoni is the main trading centre for Magarini constituency, traders have not had a good place to carry out their businesses as the market built by the defunct County Council of Malindi was too small,” Kingi stated.
Past reports reveal that the traders sold their merchandise in shacks and tents while others carried out their businesses along the Malindi-Garsen road.
Governor Kingi had announced other development projects to suit the local residents among them the construction of the Mambrui-Karibuni Villas-Posta road by the end of 2021.
