MIGORI – Traders from Masara trading center in Migori County’s Suna West Sub-county are counting loses following a night raid on Wednesday May 19.
The traders woke up to a rude shock after their shops were broken into and goods worth millions carted away by unknown thieves.
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Led by Peres Anyango who owns a fashion shop, the traders blamed curfew hours for their loss adding that criminals were taking advantage of the night time state order to terrorize them.
Anyango said she lost goods worth Ksh200,000 in a single night in the raid that left the traders counting loses.
A distraught Anyango said the thieves took away sewing machines, music systems, carpets, clothes and beauty and cosmetic products.
Peter Ondigo who is the markets chairperson blamed the rise of crime around the Masara center on laxity among the police.
Ondigo said they had lost up to Ksh12 million in under one year leading to an economic setback in the market center, this coupled with Covid-19 effects on the traders.
The chairman said many locals had resorted to opening businesses after proceeds from gold, which has been a major source of livelihood in the area, continued to dwindle.
The traders threatened to defy curfew hours to protect their businesses, owing to the failure by the government through the police to offer them protection.
But Suna West Sub-County Police Commander Wilson Ndwati accused the businessmen of laxity in reporting the theft cases to the authorities, making it difficult for the to take appropriate action.
The police boss however assured the residents of intensified security patrols in the area.
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