Dialogue with governor, court tells hawkers

By WILLIS OKETCH

The High Court in Mombasa has asked traders who were evicted from the central business district of the town last week to dialogue with the county Government.

Justice Maureen Odero gave the advice yesterday after she declined to give orders restraining the county government from throwing the hawkers out of the town.

She fixed a hearing of all parties on February 5 and ordered the applicants to serve papers to the county government, Inspector General of Police and Attorney General.

The judge also declined to give orders to stop the police from ‘harassing’ them as they operate in the streets.

In their application, the hawkers had sought to have the County Police Commander ordered to ensure the hawkers were not removed from streets.

 “We want the county commander to ensure there was peace and security of the traders in the town after being allowed back to the streets,” says lawyer Leonard Shimaka, in an affidavit.

The traders under Micro and Small Traders Enterprises Association applied to have the county government allow them to return to the streets of Mombasa. The traders claimed the county government did not give them notice to vacate from the areas they were operating from.

“The applicants were not given an opportunity to be heard and there was no natural justice and rule of law applied while evicting them from the streets,” said Shimaka.