By EUGENE OMILO
Traders at the giant Kongowea market in
Mombasa have resolved not to take part in talks with the Mombasa Municipal
Council officials as earlier planned over the recent increment of
rates.
The council officials had slated the talks after
the holy month of Ramadhan following the traders' protest against a gazete
notice published by Mombasa town clerk Tubman Otieno revising the rates by upto
300 per cent.
The council has since been forced to stop the
implentation of the notice after traders demonstrated against the new charges.
The High Court in Mombasa has also issued
temporary stay orders prohibiting teh Council from charging the new rates untill
when a suit filed by Mombasa governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal is heard and
determined.
Speaking at the Kongowea Market yesterday after a
meeting with traders, Shahbal said an exhobirant increase in the rates will lead
to an increase in food prices, thus affecting thousands of Mombasa residents who
depend on the market for their daily grocery supplies.
He also urged the traders to pursue the matter in
a civil way.
"Ask those who pretend to be mediators in this
matter where they were six months ago when we moved to court seeking to block
clandestine revision of rates and charges without consulting mwananchi," he said
while displaying the court order to traders.
Central market commitee chairman Ali Mtsumi
said the intentions of the council were suspect as the talks should have
preceded the gazette notice and not vice versa.
He asked the council officials to account for the
current revenue it collects from them before asking for more.
"We lack public toilets here and there is filth
everywhere, we dont see how we benefit from the revenue the council collects
from our traders," complained Mr. Mtsumi.
Ends...
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| Shahbal walks past a heap of fresh cabbage heads while accompanied by Ali Mtsumi, Kongowea market traders' chairman.PHOTO/Eugene OMILO |
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| He addresses the traders as scribes struggle to capture his voice digitally.PHOTO/Eugene OMILO. |
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