By Moses Nyamori
Eldoret, Kenya: Hawkers in Eldoret Tuesday engaged Uasin Gishu County askaris and police officers in running battles during eviction from the Central Business District (CBD).
The operation followed a directive by the County Governor Jackson Mandago who ordered the small business operators be evicted from the CBD.
Business operations in the town came to a standstill for the better part of Tuesday afternoon following protests by the traders who have vowed to stay put until alternative trading areas are provided for them.
Eldoret West District OCPD Charles Mutua said the exercise would continue until all the traders are removed from the town centre.
“The operation will continue until the traders are no more in the town. Some have been arrested but I am not certain of the number yet,” said the area police boss.
However, one of the county askaris involved in the exercise said at least ten hawkers had been arrested by noon Tuesday adding that they were to appear before Eldoret Municipal Court over violation of county by-laws.
“We have arrested at least ten hawkers who were very hostile during the eviction and were throwing stones at us,” said the askari who sought anonymity.
Mr Mandago has in the past expressed his commitment in cleaning up the town adding that the presence of hawkers was denying the county much needed revenue and caused congestion along the streets.
He ordered the hawkers be relocated to West Indies, but they have since defied the directive saying there were no proper markets for them to operate in.
“The hawkers have caused an unprecedented congestion in the CBD and have also greatly affected free flow of traffic and revenue collection from parking lots,” said Mandago.
There was, however, drama in the council’s cell after one of the women arrested during the operation persistently wailed uncontrollably for hours attracting attention of curious onlookers.
Efforts by the county askaris to stop her from crying in the facility bore no fruits as the small business operator continued crying while hitting the cell’s door.
The eviction comes barely a week after traders with kiosks in the town obtained a permanent injunction from Eldoret’s Magistrates Court stopping the eviction.
It later emerged, however, that the court injunction was only affecting those with kiosks and valid business permits.
“The order only affected kiosk owners and not those operating along the streets,” clarified Mandago Tuesday.
