Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai wants the County government to introduce special identification cards (IDs) and coded uniforms for hawkers operating in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Alai, on Monday, stated that the approach would ease the identification of hawkers and enable county askaris to monitor their operations, too.
Traders would also access financial products from commercial banks in line with the new identification system.
Nonetheless, the MCA faulted the officials managing Nairobi, suggesting the need for a formal avenue to manage traders.
“The brains managing the city aren’t genuinely concerned with our issues. Imagine if we created juakali.nairobi.go.ke?” Alai proposed a website consolidating all the details of hawkers, including services offered, location, and identity cards.
He further proposed assigning a limited number of hawkers to the different streets to maintain a smart city.
“Nairobi must be orderly. The problem is we are focused on looting what others built while not expanding anything.” his proposal, shared on his social media pages, read.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke Alai stated that his efforts to reach the governor have been futile, which is slowing down his plans towards catering for traders in the Juakali sector.
“The governor is playing hide and seek with elected leaders,” he stated via a phone interview.
His plan further involves formalizing the Juakali sector, so people receiving services from mama mbogas, saloonists and other traders in the industry can be confident in the credibility of the operators.
“I plan to have a bill where we will make sure everyone operating within the Juakali sector is registered to enable them to access other services like insurance and banking services.”
Alai went on to fault the County Assembly for failing to deliver its mandate and ignoring to take up laws that could help the public.
“The Assembly where you can move a motion or develop a bill is captured by the governor. It looks like an extension of the executive leadership,” he stated.
“It should be providing oversight, instead the speaker is acting like a stooge of the governor."
The MCA further suggested that hawkers who have little experience in navigating the city, and are new at operating in between traffic be assigned to a specific street where they are safer and can be monitored.
“You cannot have everybody operating everywhere, get the reflectors, or something to make sure they are noticeable while navigating the busy streets,” he advised.
Reports of city kanjos harassing traders have been on the rise, with the Nairobi governor, Johnson Sakaja, taking action against specific officers in related cases.
In a statement released on Wednesday, November 29, acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service Patrick Analo instructed the dismissal of inspectorate bosses over the harsh treatment of traders.
The dismissal was pegged on reports claiming that Askaris demolished Kiosks and vibandas belonging to hawkers at the bus station in CBD.
"Following a series of events and investigations into recent incidences in various parts of the city involving traders, motorists and business owners, it has been decided that the following officers be suspended," Analo stated.
In October, Sakaja was forced to compensate hawkers Ksh10,000 each after kanjos vandalised their carts.
