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Committee lauds Hawkers Bill, invites Governor Wa Iria for meeting

In a letter addressed to Wa Iria, Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye said that during the session set for Thursday, emerging issues affecting hawkers and street vendors will be discussed/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, mar 26 – The Senate Standing Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industrialisation has described the Hawkers and Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill 2018 fronted by Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria as timely has invited him for a discussion that aims to enrich it.

In a letter addressed to Wa Iria, Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye said that during the session set for Thursday, emerging issues affecting hawkers and street vendors will be discussed.

“At its meeting held on 21st March 2018, the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism on Trade and Industrialisation considered the Bill captioned above and found it timely in addressing the issues of hawkers and street vendors. To enrich the legislative proposal, the Committee resolved to meet with you to deliberate on emerging issues,” the letter stated.

According to the proposed law, County Governments will have to give hawkers a 30-day notice before evicting them.

The Bill also proposes the establishment of the Hawkers and Street Vendors Authority to facilitate the registration, regulation and monitoring of trade.

Hawkers across the country will also be recognised as legitimate traders.

The 2018 Hawkers and Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods) Bill is aimed at providing a legal framework for recognition, protection and regulation of hawkers and street vendors in all counties as primary pillars of economic and social development by putting in place an identification mechanism and minimum standards of operation.

The Bill comes at a time when Nairobi residents are decrying a move by hawkers to overrun the Central Business District.

According to Wa Iria, the Bill, which was presented to Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, will see hawking legitimised as a business, structured from the counties to the national level and protected.

He stated that the hawkers will however have to apply and acquire a registration certificate from the agency, which will allow them to apply for a licence from their respective County Governments.

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