KIRINYAGA-

KIRINYAGA- JANE WANGECHI Kirinyaga residents expect the governor and his team to improve the status of the markets that are in the county. The markets that are in deplorable condition has become a headache to traders and also consumers who say that the money allocated by Constituency development fund for rehabilitation of markets was mismanaged by the CDF committees becoming a headache for the county government. Alice Njeri a trader at Kagio market was quick to say that the situation gets out of hand mostly during the rainy season. She said that there has been very many promises that were put across by the then Kagio/Sagana town council where the market was supposed to have its floor have marrum spread. “What I am expecting as a trader is to have the floor of our market in Kagio be made better because when it rains the market becomes soggy, impassible and terrible. Our commodities like cabbage, tomatoes, watermelon go bad as no customers who agree to get in” she said. Another trader John Kamau, also blamed the council officers for collecting money, increasing rent rates and licences when the markets are in a pathetic condition. HE said that the county government should act fast to make sure that their goods do not get bad before they are sold as they are costly. On the other hand rice farmers were not left behind; their plight is to have the county government stablelise the rice prices despite the market being liberalized. Mary Njeri from Wamumu section said that for long National Irrigation board has been colluding with government officers in oppressing them by not doing their job but working under Mwea Rice Growers (MRGM). Njeri said that if the county government restructures the society, then rice prices will be better. “My only cry is that the county government restructures the ministry of Agriculture and that of cooperative for the benefit of farmers. We have been oppressed by the two ministries” Njeri added.