The Nairobi county assembly has now passed the trade bill that seeks to ease business operations in the CBD and the entire county.
Speaking to media MCA Robert Mbatia who sponsored the bill says the bill also seeks to address the hawkers menace in the Central Business District and harassment of mama mbogas by county askaris.
‘‘What we have initiated annual licence to all traders including hawkers and those licence you can renew them any time to avoid this askaris who collect money every evening because of lack of licence by some traders.’’ Mbatia said.
We have also allocated hawkers areas of trade and the county will licence them so that the ping pong games with county askaris can end.
‘‘The allocations will be gazetted those trading there must also have licences , they will also help us and even the county to bring sanity and order in the CBD’’ He added.
Meanwhile Nairobi Hawkers Association chairman Kimani Waweru had earlier expressed his disappointment over the bill saying 50 ,000 hawkers in the CBD were not consulted.
According to Waweru the greatest problem facing Nairobi county laws and policies is lack of public participation.