Scrap Metal traders vow to work with government in addressing vandalism menace
Scrap Metal traders in Nakuru have assured their support to the government addressing vandalism.
The traders say the sector is committed to ensuring legit businesses and that vandalism has no space in the sector.
As a way of ensuring the same, the sector is now having several zonal managers in Nakuru’s notorious estates such as Bondeni and Kaptembwa.
Addressing media in Nakuru after holding a sensitization meeting for the members, the traders led by Nakuru Scrap Metal Association Chairman Joseph Wandaka said the move will go a long way in ensuring that government properties are not vandalized.
“As a sector we are committed to doing legit businesses and we shall work with the government to ensure no vandalism cases” said Wandaka.
He added that they will ensure their members conform to the guidelines put in place by government for the sector.
Sentiments echoed by Vice Chair Samuel Gathimba who noted that the sector is also streamlining to ensure that all members operate under legal framework.
He urged the government to support the sector that has employed over 5000 locals in Nakuru County alone.
“What we are doing now is just to ensure that our members have licenses so that they can conduct legit businesses. We also want to warn those engaging in vandalism that this sector will not tolerate such” he said.
Miriam Nyambura, a scrap dealer in Nakuru’s Free Area estate, called on the government to move in and help the sector grow by addressing some of the challenges.
Ms Nyambura noted that the sector has been hit by the high fee charged on licenses for operations.
She urged the Kenya Kwanza government that has been branded as hustlers’ government to consider lowering the licence fee of scrap metal dealers’ businesses.
“As it stands now the licence fee is very high and that is why we plead with President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to consider us” said Nyambura.
It should be noted that in January, the sector was harshly hit after the then President Uhuru Kenyatta banned exports and dealings in scrap metal until proper guidelines were in place to regulate the business that is blamed for vandalism on critical infrastructure including power lines, bridges and railway lines.