Eastleigh traders want hawkers gone

Eastleigh Nairobi Kenya PHOTO: COURTESY

The Eastleigh business community has closed all major malls to protest against an influx of hawkers along the area’s streets.

The traders said they will march to City Hall on Wednesday to ask Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to intervene and save their businesses from the hawkers.

They said they will close the malls on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday every week and demonstrate to City Hall until the itinerant traders are removed from Eastleigh.

Businessman Idris Ali, who owns Moonlight Mall, said he will lose Sh1 million any day the mall is closed, but he has no choice. He said the hawkers have set up shop at his mall’s entrance.

“There is a cartel running the hawkers’ organisations here in Eastleigh. They collect money and promise to support the hawkers. The group leaders always say they pay senior officers at City Hall to protect them,” claimed Ali.

However, City Hall has denied the allegations, saying it’s officers only collect money from those who run genuine businesses and they issue permits.

County Trade executive Ann Othoro said City Hall stopped the collection early this year and whoever is still collecting cash is doing so illegally.