A New Dawn For Lessos Business Community
Lessos Trading Centre residents and business community converged yesterday at Ruki Resort to engage in a public participation aimed at electing new market committee, following a petition by stakeholders praying for fresh election of Lessos center market committee since the committee in place was elected 21 years ago and not representative
The election was held under the provision of Urban and Cities (amendments) Act 2019, establishing urban areas including municipality town or market centers and management of these urban areas. Various stakeholders and business categories were represented including land owner, retailers/wholesalers, mama mboga , boda boda operators, bar owners, hotel owners, jua kali /auto spares dealers, matatu operators, special groups and gender.
From each category one candidate was nominated except land owners retailers /wholesalers, jua kali/ auto spare dealers, categories each from which two candidates were nominated, making a total of 13 members and 2 co- opted members
In an election presided over by the Deputy director for Administration Philister Maiyo, Joseph Ketter was elected as the chairperson and Richard Cheror as vice chair. Maiyo made it clear that according to law a market center is managed and governed by the county government and therefor pointed out that the area ward administrator is a member of committee representing county government as stipulated in the Act .The deputy director explained the functions of the committee as stated in the act which include overseeing affairs of the market center, facilitating and promoting trade development, promoting market infrastructural development, implement applicable national and county laws, promote safe and healthy environment as well as function outlined in the first schedule of the Act. The exercise was the first ever carried out under the Urban Areas and Cities (amendment) Act 2019 and is expected to replicated across the county.
Accompanying the deputy director were trade development officers Christine Cherotich, Amos Saina and Philip Kogo. Also present was Job Koech, Ward Administrator for Lessos, Elly Melly, Ward Administrator Chepkunyuk, Lucy Ruto Ward Administrator Nandi Hills, James Serem , Chief Lessos Location Sammy Songok Assistant Chief Lessos Sub location and Wilson Kosgei Sub county revenue officers among others.