Don’t try and pass the buck, business community tells Kidero
Police clash with Eastleigh market hawkers as the traders demonstrated outside Governor Evans Kidero's office in Nairobi on October 19, 2016. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Kenya Private Sector Alliance cited high levies, traffic congestion, garbage collection, land grabbing and hawkers, among others, as major hindrances to a conducive business environment.
- Businessman Chris Kirubi demanded an explanation on the failure to establish new markets and clean up the city.
- Dr Kidero, however, said a lot was being done to remove hawkers from the streets.
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero found himself on the spot on Tuesday when the business community accused him of not doing his job.
The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) cited high levies, traffic congestion, garbage collection, land grabbing and hawkers, among others, as major hindrances to a conducive business environment.
Businessman Chris Kirubi and Kepsa boss Carole Kariuki told Dr Kidero to stop making excuses and do his job.
Mr Kirubi demanded an explanation on the failure to establish new markets and clean up the city.
He said he was disappointed that Dr Kidero was blaming politics for his shortcomings. “There is no politics in cleaning up the city,” said Mr Kirubi.
Dr Kidero, however, said a lot was being done to remove hawkers from the streets. He said Sh6 billion had been set aside to renovate markets.
POLITICAL INTERFERENCE
“Do not be annoyed with me. We are doing something, especially about the hawkers on Lower Kabete road. After we complete Westlands market in six weeks they will be moved there,” said Dr Kidero.
He blamed political interference for the traffic jams.
The governor said that the president had also supported the matatu industry which cause the menace of traffic in the city when he gave them the authority to operate.
Dr Kidero said that the police have also refused to move from the controlling of traffic despite traffic control being a devolved function.
“I don’t understand why the police have refused to move from the traffic,” said Dr Kidero.
The CEO Kepsa also challenged Kidero to bring order in the transport sector saying that he did not need to lobby the president but create structures that will phase out matatu in the city.
