Business Daily (Nairobi)
George Omondi
26 May 2008
Nairobi — Hawkers removed from Nairobi's central business district will benefit from a ruling by Justice John Nyamu on May 5.
The ruling effectively stopped matatu operators from petitioning against a decision that they operate from the Muthurwa terminus.
Matatus from the city's Eastlands area drop and pick up passengers from the newly built bus terminus, creating business opportunities for the relocated hawkers who now own stalls at the terminus.
Mr Nyamu's ruling thwarted attempts by Matatu operators Bernard Goko, Elizaphan Wahome, Duncan Ngugi, Michael Kinyua and Joe Macharia to apply for a judicial review order that would quash the decision by the government to bar the matatus from entering the CBD.
As it turned out, the by-laws introduced by the Local Government minister through a Kenya Gazette Notice number 21 of 2008, was a hidden blessing to the Muthurwa market community.
Once again, the rustic Muthurwa estate, long known for idle youths and petty crimes, is now abuzz with economic activity. To the hawkers, who were used to years of brutality from city askaris backed at times by regular police, the by-law came as a welcome relief after enduring years of running battles that usually came with heavy losses. "Life was difficult. You could realise good sales in one week only for city askaris to destroy everything the following week. At least, I don't have to worry about that any more," said a second hand clothe dealer.
Harassment
Most traders echo the same sentiments and add that absence of constant harassment has given them hope to substantially increase their stock in trade.
The effect of the by-law is that commuters are dropped near the market and have to walk through stalls in order to access the city centre.
The resulting human traffic has changed the fortunes for the hawkers' only market, where life now has to begin early each day.
Pete Mwangi, who sells belts, handkerchiefs, socks and cloths is overwhelmed by the new lifestyle. "Last week, during the bad weather, I was able to sell six umbrellas before 7am," he said.
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