A Case For The Street Vendor

Street Vendors. They’re viewed by many as tax evaders, a nuisance to the public, a disgrace to society and sometimes as disguised muggers. First off, the hard facts. Street vendors do hog pavements and force pedestrians onto the roads. They inconvenience tax paying shop owners. They crowd the streets and make it easier for muggers to do what they do best. They cause much littering. Some are plain annoying, like those who hound passersby and put their wares in their faces.

All these they may be but that’s because their contribution is not factored in urban policies and there are no frameworks set for them to work along. These traders are an economic necessity. They have every right to contribute to the growth of the economy and to make a living for themselves and their families. Their input is very much a part and parcel of the Economic Development Plan that is Vision 2030 and should receive attention, solid governing policies, and even incentives. They need intervention to better their trade, not oppressive regulations.

In Mombasa for example, currently the streets are clear of hawkers. A few still sell their goods amid running battles with Kanju, but majority have left the streets. They’ve been herded and allocated space in far off Buxton which is right at the beginning of Nyali Bridge. Save for Mombasa Poly students, residents of that area, and people boarding Kilifi Malindi matatus, there isn’t enough human traffic there to sustain any business. Others have been moved to Mbaraki, an awkward side of the island where people rarely visit. Yet the essence of their trade is to bring wares closer to the people.

Street vendors cannot be pushed to a far off corner and ignored. What they need is space and accommodation. There is enough land in town and local governments have enough money to build markets. If someone tried hard enough the solutions are there. So it all boils down to the question of good leadership. And the cycle begins all over again.