Sonko issues new order on city hawkers

dennis kibet

September 25, 2017 9:44 AM

The new directive is set to take effect immediately and will affect all hawkers in the CBD.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has issued a new order affecting all city hawkers in the Central Business District.

Sonko has now said that the hawkers will be moved to the backstreets as the county government finds an alternative permanent place for them.

The new directive comes after he met with representatives from the Nairobi Hawkers’ Association.

Among the concerns the hawkers raised include putting up stalls for them, their official registration, harassment and inhumane treatment by county askaris.

Sonko said a committee had been formed to deal with the issues raised.

The governor confirmed he had directed Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe to deliberate the matter with the county director of Trade.

He said that from now on, the hawkers will be known as small-scale traders.

"We will not chase you from the city centre like dogs but we will look for places for you to operate at first. This is where my votes came from. I started fighting for hawkers when I was a legislator of Makadara and I have continued to fight for your rights since then. I will not change now that I am a governor," Sonko promised.

The governor also promised that harassment and inhumane treatment of hawkers by County Inspectorate Askaris would be a thing of the past.

"I had a meeting with county askaris and gave directive that no hawker should be harassed or treated inhumanely but give warning to first time offenders, and arrest second time offenders. You will not be harassed when I am still the Governor," he added.

dennis kibet