Hawkers’ misery to end as stalls plan unveiled

Running battles between hawkers and county askaris in Mombasa could be a thing of the past after the devolved unit rolled out a programme to resettle the traders.

The hawkers who were evicted from the streets three months ago will now be allowed to do business on the Kenya Revenue Authority/Customs Road on Sundays as a temporary move before they are allocated stalls at strategic places in the town.

Nyali MP Hezron Awiti and the county executive for Trade, Mr Mohamed Abdi, said the move was a short-term programme as the administration looks for permanent solutions into the controversial hawker issue.

At the same time, eight curio stalls are being built next to the landmark tusks on Moi Avenue, which Mr Abdi said was a pilot project with others to follow later.

“We will build other standard stalls at strategic places in the city later,” he said.

Mr Abdi said a previous programme to allow hawkers in the back streets did not work.

The county government will instead place them on main streets but regulate them to ensure security, order and prevent congestion, he said.

SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED

Addressing the vendors at the Jomo Kenyatta public beach, Mr Awiti said there was a major plan to resettle them at various locations.

He said stalls would be built around Bombolulu on the Mombasa-Malindi Highway.

“Four sites have been identified where hawkers will be allocated space to run their businesses. You will soon be shown the areas. I am working closely with the county government to make sure your interests are looked into,” said the MP.

He asked those on the beaches to resist any eviction, saying the National Museums of Kenya, which manages the beach, would discuss with his office the best way of allocating them space.

However, Mr Awiti urged the hawkers to conduct their businesses peacefully, ensure security by identifying criminals and maintaining high standards of hygiene.