Feature: Kenyan traders resume business to South Sudan

Kenyan traders have resumed business to South Sudan amid returning peace in the war-rocked country.

Traders from Kitale and Eldoret towns in northwest Kenya have in the past weeks flocked back to Juba and Torit towns to deliver supplies after their businesses were interrupted by violence triggered by the fallout between president Salva Kirr and his former vice president Riek Machar.

For some days now, there has been a beehive of activities at the open field belonging to Kenya Railway in Kitale town as traders park goods destined to South Sudan.

Several trucks loaded with supplies have in the recent week been spotted transporting the goods to the country through Lokichoggio town at the Kenya-South Sudan border.

Kenyan loaders who had been rendered jobless due to insecurity in South Sudan are back to their normal duties.

"Our source of income had been cut by the violence but we are happy that peace has returned and goods are delivered to the country. Now we are able to put food on the table for our families," loader James Simiyu told Xinhua in Kitale on Tuesday.

Some of supplies parked in lorries destined to the war-torn country includes food stuff, house holds and furniture.

Traders interviewed said the relative peace in the neighboring country has given the opportunity to resume the business they abandoned when war broke in South Sudan.

"We almost lost hope doing business in South Sudan. We are happy that that peace has returned in the country and this has given us the opportunity to deliver supplies to the country," said Mary Waithera, a cereal trader at Matisi.

Jones Wafula who supplies furniture to traders in Torit town in Kapoita County said he has resumed the supply last week.

"I was worried where I was going to get money to pay school fees for my two daughters in secondary school. It is good that our neighbor has stopped fighting and I am sure I will get money from the supplies I delivered," said Wafula.

Reports from Juba town indicated that some Kenyan business people who had closed their business during the violence are returning.

Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trade lobby for small business community, has welcomed renewed peace in South Sudan and urged for efforts from stakeholders involved in peace in the country to ensure peace is sustained. Endit