Homa Bay town wakes up from weeks of Azimio protests
Business is gradually resuming in Homa Bay town after two weeks of protests called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
On April 3, 2023, a spot check by Nairobi News showed the streets of Homa Bay Town were, however, still littered with boulders that protestors used to barricade roads during the weekly demonstrations.
The stones are strategically placed beside the road and may be used to block motorists whenever Mr Odinga calls for another protest.
Mr Odinga suspended the protests on April 2, 2023, a day to what he had vowed will be the ‘mother of all demonstrations in the country’.
Some of the Azimio leader supporters were gearing up to hit the streets but their plans were suspended following the ceasefire between President William Ruto and Mr Odinga.
At the same time, an announcement by Mr Odinga for his supporters not to march in the streets brought relief for traders in Homa Bay who were yet to adapt to reduced numbers of days for conducting business.
Homa Bay Giant Traders Association Chairman Jack Nyambega said some business operators had their stocks running out.
These were mainly people who buy merchandise from towns like Nairobi and Mombasa.
“Suppliers were fearing that they could be attacked while traveling on the road. Some of them told traders that they cannot come to Homa Bay anymore,” Mr Nyambega said.
Among traders affected by disruption in the movement are people who sell clothes and shoes.
Food traders were equally affected.
According to Mr Nyanbega, most food consumed in Homa Bay is sourced from Kisii and Kericho.
Suppliers were equally afraid of going to Homa Bay because the counties are dominated by different political parties.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) dominates Homa Bay while a section of leaders in Kisii and Kericho are members of the ruling party UDA.
“Some people believe coming from another country means you support a political party that he or she does not support. This made some suppliers fear for their lives,” Mr Nyambega said.
He appealed to Mr Odinga not to call for another demonstration for Homa Bay County to grow economically.
Mr John Oriko, a beverage trader however shared a different opinion.
Despite closing his business for two days a week, he insisted that he will push Mr Odinga’s agenda of economic transformation and electoral reforms.
Besides traders, the county government of Homa Bay was feeling the pinch of the demonstrations despite Governor Gladys Wanga, an avid supporter of Mr Odinga, calling on residents to support the push for the government to lower the cost of living.
According to county spokesperson Rachel Oguttu, the devolved unit lost millions from unpaid revenue.
She said the county government only collected Sh 438 on March 20, the first day of the protest.
However, she said the devolved unit collected one million the following day when there was no protest.
It means at least Sh 1 million was lost whenever people moved to the streets.
Meanwhile, at the bus park, public service vehicles resumed operations on Monday.