Rainy season exposes the ugly side of Wakulima market

Clogged drains, foul odours and muddy roads are what greet you at Wakulima market in Biashara District. Here, despite the unfriendly environment, traders go about their business.
Jesicca Gesare, a trader at the market, tells Mtaa Wangu that with the constant rains, they have to endure the mud and blocked drains just to make ends meet.

“Ningependa kuongea na MCA, Fadhili Msuri, tulimchagua kama kiongozi wetu akuje atusaidie hapa Wakulima Market, tazama wakati former MCA alikua, mtaro ilikua sawa, sasa wakati yeye alichukua uongozi hajawahi onekana kwa soko. Sahii soko imejaa, mtaro imeziba, maji inapita juu, sewage imepita juu. Sasa tunashangaa kumeenda aje, alienda wapi Fadhili Msuri?” asked Ms Gasare.

She is worried about the health risks traders are exposed to, such as contracting water-borne diseases, not to mention the low business season as customers are repelled by their food mixing with the mud and sewage, causing their produce to spoil faster, resulting in huge losses.

 “Soko si mzuri, ata customers hawaingi kwa soko wakati kama huu. Sasa wakiangalia soko imejaa matope hawaingii wanakaa pale nje ata biashara yetu sahii imerudi chini kwa sababu maji imejaa. Customers wakiingia kwa soko wanasema chakula imechanganyikana na sewage, maji imejaa, sasa hakuna mahali pa kununua, wanakata mizigo sasa imeoza, sisi tunaenda wapi na tunategemea hii soko? MCA atutengenezee mitaro itolewe uchafu ndio customers warudi,” she said.

"Hon. Susan Kihika mahali uko ongea na MCA Fadhili Msuri arudi kwa soko aangalie maslahi yetu venye tunakaa, tunakanyaga maji mbaya tunaeza gonjeka. Akuje kwa soko atuundie hii mtaro, maji iteremke vile ilikua. Tafadhali atuokolee".

Ms Gesare is not alone; others have also lamented the deplorable state of the market, especially during the rainy season.

They hope the county government will upgrade the status of the market.

“Mvua inatunyeshea na inanyeshe mizigo yetu, na maji ikishika mizigo inaharibika. Serikali ya County ikaeza tuekea lami mpya kwa sababu ya kuzingirwa na matope, ikaeza tutengenezea roof na simiti mahali pa kuweka mizigo ndio mvua isitunyeshee, itakua poa sana,” a trader whose requested anonymity said.