Night markets will address hawker problem

My heart always sinks when I see the Nairobi County askaris engaging in running battles with street traders. Yet it is not possible to have orderly, clean and secure streets if the hawkers are allowed to roam freely in the city centre.

The Nairobi City County Government has been working to come up with a solution to the street hawkers’ problem and the Ignite Kenya Youth Night Market is the answer it has found.

The initiative was launched this Easter Friday on Mama Ngina Street. It is an alternative and legitimate way that allows street traders to earn a living.

The fact of the matter is that there is a large number of street hawkers because there is an equally huge demand for their wares.

However, Nairobians feel greatly inconvenienced when they have to walk in congested streets in the evenings, when hawkers venture out into certain streets.

Yet they are the ones who encourage the traders to keep coming back by offering a ready market for their goods.

The night markets, which will be opened on select weekends every month, are expected to attract up to 300 traders, who will not be charged any licence fees in a special waiver by the county government.

City Hall will also offer security and fire and ambulance services to the traders between 4pm and midnight.

VALUABLE LESSONS

The night markets will offer the county government valuable lessons in understanding the needs of street hawkers and the preferences of the city residents who buy their goods.

Over the years, it has become clear that trying to legislate or force the hawkers out of the streets is not effective.

The vendors will keep coming back as long as the profit they take home exceeds the cost and the risk of being arrested.

The Nairobi City administration has reconsidered taking an overly aggressive stance against the traders because it is clear that they are just trying to earn an honest living.

To address the inconveniences and disorder that come with street hawkers, the county government has focused on creating markets where the youth can conduct their business in peace and with minimal disruption.

To this end, the administration has rehabilitated its markets in Ngara, Dandora, Kariokor, Landies Road, Burma, and Wakulima to accommodated more traders.

A new phase of the City Park and Karen markets are also being constructed to cater for the increased demand.

The overwhelming scale of joblessness, however, means that the spaces created are taken up immediately, leaving out many deserving applicants.

The potentially higher profits keep luring hawkers into the central business district, perpetuating a problem that is difficult to resolve.

COMMON PHENOMENON

Nairobi is not unique in this aspect. Street hawkers are a common phenomenon even in other developing countries and more advanced economies.

What makes the difference is the methods that different city authorities employ to handle the traders.

In New York, the Queens International Night Market is organised as a large, family-friendly open-air market where vendors sell general merchandise, art, and food.

It also features cultural performances and entertainment. This is similar to what will be on offer at the Nairobi night markets.

By understanding better the needs of both the street traders and buyers, the Nairobi City County Government will be able to devise better ways of handling the hawkers’ problem in the future.

Some city streets will be zoned off to offer a model for possible inclusion of other streets. 

This will be done in a controlled and gradual way in order to guard against impeding other businesses and Nairobians’ right to walk the streets comfortably.

Ms Lokidor is the Nairobi County executive for ICT and Education, Youth and Social Services. [email protected].