This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
On July 9, 2019, a standoff between stall owners and hawkers at City Market in Nairobi, Kenya, entered its second day, disrupting business at the famous market.
Traders who own stalls at the market have accused hawkers of spreading their goods in front of their premises, blocking customers and subjecting their businesses to unfair competition.
Stall owners claim they pay up to Sh100,000 in taxes annually to Nairobi County, while hawkers only pay Sh50 daily.
As a result, the stall owners closed down their premises in protest of the invasion by hawkers.
"The County should find another place and relocate these hawkers because if this trend continues we will make a lot of losses," a trader said.
However, hawkers argue that they are doing legal business and pay for the spaces they occupy, and that they will not accept to be discriminated against.
"We pay taxes and we have complied with all the requirements including obtaining a health certificate, we are doing legal business," said Kamundia Mathenge, a representative of the hawkers.
The hawkers also argue that the fact that the county government collects Sh50 daily from them means they are allowed to trade within the city.
"Competition in markets is common and it's not that we are doing business for free," said Clifford, a fish vendor at the market.
The standoff comes days after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko announced that hawkers would be allowed to carry on with their business freely.
