Hawkers, mall owners clash in Eastleigh

Hawkers operating in Eastleigh on Wednesday afternoon engaged police in running battles following a clash with mall owners who say the hawkers are a menace.

Police officers were forced to disperse the warring factions who clashed over working space.

This comes barely a week after a court in Nairobi issued a directive to the County Government not to evict hawkers operating in Eastleigh Avenue 1 and 2 pending hearing and determination of a case in court.

The orders were issued after Eastleigh Hawkers’ Association moved to court to stop Nairobi City County Government from evicting them from where they conduct their businesses until a designated area is built for them.

They argue that they derive their livelihood from hawking, adding that they would have no place to run their business if the respondents evict them.

The Eastleigh Hawkers’ Association accused the mall owners of insincerity and grabbing public land, leaving them with no option.

Meanwhile, members of the Eastleigh Business Community in Nairobi now say they will close their shops indefinitely beginning Thursday to protest what they have termed as hawker’s invasion in the area.

While addressing the media, Chairperson of the Eastleigh Business District Association Ibrahim Hussein said reopening of the shops will depend on how fast the hawkers are removed from the streets.

The traders claim the hawkers have set up shades by the roadside while others display their goods outside the malls hence blocking the entrance, and therefore hurting their business.

The business owners claim that the security agents have failed to address the matter further damaging their business.