Nairobi County’s Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Trade and Tourism, Allan Igambi, has urged MCAs to fast track the process of passing the Trade Bill, which will assist in dealing with the hawkers’ menace in the Central Business District (CBD).
If the Bill is passed, Nairobians caught buying goods from hawkers will be arrested or fined Ksh2,000 on the spot.
“I urge the MCAs to pass this Bill, this will not be a way to collect money but a deterrent to the menace,” he stated.
Igambi explained that the bill would ensure fair competition since hawkers had invaded streets, obstructing access to shops and supermarkets which have paid the necessary licenses for the premises they occupy.
“Some even have stalls but leave them to come and hawk in front of other business premises, this is what we want to deal with,” he noted.
He added that the move would also serve as a means to maintain food hygiene since many hawkers sell food items on streets and pavements which are dirty, hence compromising the health of city residents.
This Bill was reportedly developed during former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s administration but the MCAs didn’t pass it.
This latest development seeks to eliminate street hawkers in the CBD, who year in year out, have been engaging in running battles with the city’s law enforcement agents and in some instances, resulting in fatal outcomes.
In January, the government had proposed to have motorists prohibited from entering the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on two days of the week.
According to Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS), James Macharia, the exercise which was later suspended was meant to allow hawkers to use the streets during the two days.
