Nakuru County introduces hefty license fees for hawkers
Hawkers display their wares on a veranda on Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru on January 7, 2014. Now the Nakuru County Government says it will introduce hefty hawking license fees as a way of discouraging hawking in Nakuru town streets. Hawkers have two weeks to apply afresh for monthly licenses which will be charged at Sh1,000 per square metre. PHOTO/FILE/SULEIMAN MBATIAH.
What you need to know:
- They have been given two weeks to apply afresh for monthly licenses that will be charged at Sh1,000 per square metre.
- Those who cannot meet the new conditions are expected close their businesses and seek alternative areas outside the Central Business District to set up their businesses.
- All hawkers are expected to close shop within the next two weeks when the notice takes effect.
- Recently Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said his government would embark on massive eviction of hawkers especially those operating along Kenyatta Avenue, which is Nakuru town’s main street.
The Nakuru County Government has introduced hefty hawking license fees as a way of removing hawkers from the streets.
All licenses currently in use will be revoked and others with hefty monthly fees introduced
County Secretary Joseph Motari said all hawkers who have constructed sheds with canopies as well as others operating along verandas outside locals shops and other businesses will have all their licenses revoked.
They have been given two weeks to apply afresh for monthly licenses which will be charged at Sh1,000 per square metre.
In a move aimed at ridding Nakuru town streets of hawkers, the country government sent notices to vendors operating along main streets asking them to apply afresh for licenses.
Those who cannot meet the new conditions are expected close their businesses and seek alternative areas outside the Central Business District to set up their businesses.
In one of the notices seen by Nation.co.ke and copied to the County Enforcement Officer and individual hawkers, all licenses issued early 2014 stand revoked.
CLOSE SHOP
All hawkers are expected to close shop within the next two weeks when the notice takes effect.
For the last six years residents of Nakuru have been complaining of the influx of hawkers into the streets.
This has created insecurity as pick-pockets and other petty thieves are able to carry-out their activities without being noticed by the law enforcers.
Recently Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said his government would embark on massive eviction of hawkers especially those operating along Kenyatta Avenue, which is Nakuru town’s main street.
This, he said, would help regain the town’s lost glory as the cleanest in East Africa.
The one and half kilometers street has been a permanent trading zone for more than 300 hawkers whose days in the area are now numbered as it will become a restricted area.
Mr Mbugua said that Kenyatta Avenue was the pride and face of Nakuru town and hence the need to maintain order.
“Even in Nairobi City, don’t find hawkers on streets in the Central Business District such as Mama Ngina, Kenyatta Avenue and Harambee Avenue,” said Mr Mbugua.
