This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Published on July 15, 2019, a dispute between meat and chicken hawkers at Nairobi's City Market and shoppers has escalated, with shop owners claiming their lives are in danger.
According to Stanley Mathenge Kamundia, head of security at the market, shop owners have received direct threats from hawkers who are allegedly colluding with some inspectorate and trade officials at City Hall to conduct illegal businesses.
‘‘We took a joint OB on the 8th of this month at the Central Police Station with an OB number 97..08/07/2019, and we have made it clear to the police that our lives are in danger..I mean these are not just hawkers, we don’t know why they are enjoying protection from CityHall.’’ Kamundia said.
He also claimed that in the past year, about three shop owners have lost their lives due to the hawkers at City Market.
Kamundia wants the governor to reclaim the grabbed land behind City Market and allocate it for the hawkers, which he believes will solve the stalemate.
‘‘There is a county land just behind us here that was grabbed let the governor build modern stalls for them. They relocate this people and also to pay revenue to the county instead of doing murky business at City Market without paying revenue or even having health certificates,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the county government has appointed a seven-man team to resolve the matter.
