Busia women traders have reasons to smile due to the intervention of the County Government of Busia and European Union through Trade Mark East Africa to construct for them a Safe Market to address challenges of Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Busia County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Investments, Cooperatives and Industry, Judith Maketso said 300 traders will benefit from the partnership between the County Government and TMEA.
Speaking at the One Stop Border Post on Monday during a meeting between Kenya stakeholders and Busia Management Committee, the CECM said the County Government has already donated land for the market with TMEA due to start construction works.

“We thank the EU and TMEA for this gesture which will go a long way in addressing numerous challenges Kasarani women traders have been facing, including operating in the open despite the harsh weather conditions,” she said.

Ms Maketso said the County and National Governments need deliberate efforts to undertake capacity building for traders across the county to effectively use the OSBP instead of only focusing on those operating in export trade at Busia and Malaba OSBPs.

She thanked the PS for East African Community for mooting the idea of coming up with a Jumuiya Market during a stakeholders meeting in 2018, noting that the Jumuiya market once fast tracked will spur economic development in the region.

“ There is also need by most traders to embrace the use of ICT to enable them execute their duties even under hard economic times; Since the onset of Covid -19, most traders were unable to physically travel, thus the need to make use of ICT,” she said.

Ms Maketso said they are working on recovery plan for traders affected by Covid-19; we have Trade Revolving Fund which attracts a paltry interest rate of 5 per cent , urging all partners to join efforts and empower small scale traders.

She added, “We are reaching to as many women traders by making deliberate efforts to partner with Women Enterprise Fund to enable them access the funds, “ she said, adding that a memorandum of Understanding between the County and WEF will be signed in the next two weeks.

Photo: Juakali artisan at Soko Posta in Busia Town.

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