City Hall deputy director of communications, Elkana Jacob, on Tuesday stated that the small-scale traders (hawkers, boda-boda riders and matatu operators) who are to be taken to Rwanda for benchmarking will be selected by their respective lobby groups.
There was uncertainty surrounding the metrics that would be used to select the 300 traders but Nairobi County Government has revealed that they will be selected after Madarka Day Celebrations.
“The selection process will be done after June 1 and it will be by the respective associations representing the individuals,” stated Jacob.
The traders are expected to borrow a number of things from the East African nation including how to run their businesses without inconveniencing others.
[caption caption="File Photo of Sonko with a trader in the CBD"]
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Each of the three groups will send 100 individuals and City-county operations Chief Officer Peter Mbaya added that bodaboda operators will have to come up with a self-regulation plan to operate within the CBD.
Last week, Sonko met leaders of the three associations at City Hall ahead of the planned visit where he committed to ensure their economic livelihoods are uplifted.
“We want them to learn from the best. Our goal is to make Nairobians self-reliant and open up business opportunities for everyone,” reiterated the governor.
Sonko has been trying to improve the face of the city and recently several structures were demolished in Ngara to pave way for construction of new bus termini.
Matatu operators, however, defended traders whose stalls were demolished saying the move was politically motivated.
Matatu Transport Vehicles Association secretary-general Wambugu Kanoru claimed the demolition was done to give way for traders backing the current city administration.
"The ongoing demolition has nothing to do with opening spaces for matatus. Those structures are at the edges of the terminus.
"The exercise is to reward those who campaigned for the current administration," he remarked last week.
[caption caption="File Photo of Hawkers"]
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