Nairobi's Eastleigh malls shut to protest hawker invasion

Shopping malls in Eastleigh, Nairobi, remained closed on Wednesday as businessmen cried foul over what they say is an invasion of hawkers.

Eastleigh Business District Association chairman Ibrahim Hussein said they had invested more than Sh100 billion but hawkers are interfering with their trading.

He said they pay Sh1 billion in taxes to the county, amounting to 35 per cent of all revenue collected, he added, and therefore they should be protected.

"We have no problem with hawkers; [we are] only appealing to have them relocated," he said.

He added that of the approximately 20,000 hawkers, only 200 were genuine.

He said the rest are outsiders who had contributed to insecurity in the area.

“Those hawkers who are chased from town find a safe haven in Eastleigh,” he said.

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Kamukunji hawkers association chairman Haji Abdullahi said they were happy that shopping malls had been closed as they could now make big sales.

Mr Abdullahi said the county had sold their land to a private developer and so they would continue operating on the streets.

He said the stall owners should reduce rents so hawkers can afford them, adding that they were ready to relocate if they were given an alternative place by City Hall.

"We are excited that the rich are considerate to let us [trade] without them. I hope they close for longer," said Mr Abdullahi.

Mr Hussein said the malls would be closed for three days, from Wednesday to Friday, every week, until the hawkers are removed.