Hawkers want to do business within Central Business District

Nairobi, Kenya: The case filed at the High Court by a Nairobi businessman James Wanjohi seeking the Nairobi County government to allocate a specific place within the Central Business District  (CBD) for hawkers is set for hearing next month.

If granted, the hawkers will do their business within the CBD without harassment from city council officers.

Mr Wanjohi who is fighting for the rights of hawkers wants the City County to allow traders carry out their activities in the CBD freely without harassment and extortion from county askaris.

"Let the Nairobi County government set aside specific places in the Central Business District (CBD) where hawkers can do their business, and this is what we are agitating for because hawkers have families that need to be fed just like any other Kenyan," said Wanjohi.

Wanjohi said that if hawkers were legally empowered to carry out their business activities in designated areas,  it will open more opportunities for young entrepreneurs and create jobs.

"As hawkers we sell our items at very affordable prices as compared to our competitors who everyone in the city can access. We are also creating jobs for ourselves and we want to work closely with likeminded people within the authorities to create jobs and make profit," said Wanjohi.

According to him, hawkers have rights to do business at any given place in Nairobi and there is need for their concerns to be addressed with the urgency deserved.

"This harassment by security agencies is uncalled for and should seize," said Wanjohi.

He says they have tried several times to reach out to the Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero to find an amicable solution to the problem but all their efforts have been futile.

Wanjohi says many hawkers have lost their lives in the hands of City Council officers through murder and serious physical harassment this year as compared to last year.

"Every year the county askaris are becoming brutal against us yet we are patriotic Kenyans trying to make a living by selling items at the convenience of our customers," said Wanjohi

City council officers and Nairobi hawkers have always been fighting within the city on grounds that the latter is doing business at undesignated areas.

Last week Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said that lack of proper planning was to blame for the hawker menace in the city and warned city askaris against using excessive force against the vendors while enforcing city bylaws.

He came to the defense of the hawkers, saying that they are not the problem but lack of proper planning and alternative space that is convenient for the consumers of their products.