Ogembo: The business community in Ogembo Market in Gucha Sub-County, Kisii County, staged a demonstration on Monday morning to protest a prolonged power outage that has disrupted operations in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, the traders marched to the Ogembo Municipal Offices and then proceeded to the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices to present their grievances. They reported significant financial losses and business disruptions due to the lack of electricity, urging authorities to urgently restore power to the market.
The traders claimed that the market has been without electricity for over three weeks, despite multiple complaints lodged with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). They expressed dissatisfaction with what they see as a lack of response from the power company.
They further alleged that the transformer supplying electricity to the area was taken away by KPLC for repairs more than three weeks ago and has not been returned, leaving businesses in darkness.
The outage has affected many enterprises, particularly those reliant on electricity, including retail shops, salons, butcheries, and cyber caf©s.
Gucha Deputy County Commissioner Esther Kung’u addressed the demonstrators, assuring them that the issue would be handled urgently. She promised to liaise with relevant institutions to ensure a swift resolution and restoration of power to the market.
The traders warned that further delays could severely impact their livelihoods and urged authorities to prioritize the issue.
