Turkana County to ban dual wholesale-retail businesses, warns of closures after June 30 deadline
In a public notice issued by the County Department of Trade, traders were given a deadline that expires by June 30th, where business owners are required to choose either retail or wholesale business operations.
Traders in Turkana operating both wholesale and retail businesses under a single license risk facing business closure, license revocation and legal action, following outcry by retailers in Turkana over unfair business competition.
In a public notice issued by the County Department of Trade, traders were given a deadline that expires by June 30th, where business owners are required to choose either retail or wholesale business operations.
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Roseline Aite, the County Executive Member for Trade, Gender, Youth Affairs, and Tourism, invoked Section 26(6) of the Turkana County Finance Act 2025, issued through the Directorate of Trade, Weights and Measures, to justify why traders were to comply with the directives.
"This move is aimed at enforcing fairness in business and improving compliance with the licensing framework," she said.
The county executive stated that the directives stem from reports linking the practice of dual trading predominantly to wholesalers, who are allegedly accused of undercutting retailers by selling goods directly to final consumers.
"Our office has always received complaints from small-scale and micro traders operating retail businesses about the unfair situation created by wholesalers. This must stop. The market is wide enough to accommodate the categories," she explained.
Aite expressed concern over how the retailers have been decrying the unfair competition that she says eroded their customer base and made it difficult to compete.
She emphasised how a more structured business environment will not only protect small traders but will also improve local revenue collection.
"This is not just about enforcement, it is about building a fair playing field and ensuring that traders contribute their share to the country's development," she noted.
Traders in Turkana welcomed the move, saying it could restore order in the marketplace and reduce unfair competition.
"The wholesalers have turned into retailers, and we are the ones suffering. They buy in bulk and sell at prices we cannot match," says Geofry Ewote, retailer at Kakuma market.
The county trade department urged affected traders to visit the nearest revenue offices for guidance on how to amend their licenses before the deadline.
According to the county government, the new measures come at a time when the county is rolling out programmes to promote micro-enterprises, with the aim of expanding market access and enabling more residents to enter the formal economy.
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