Hawkers barred from operating outside Eastleigh malls

Eastleigh hawkers during a September 2, 2016 protest after their stalls were demolished for trading at the doorsteps of shopping malls in the area. /FILE
Eastleigh hawkers during a September 2, 2016 protest after their stalls were demolished for trading at the doorsteps of shopping malls in the area. /FILE

Hawkers in Eastleigh will have to look for an alternative place to sell their wares, a court in Nairobi ordered on Monday.

A court said that it cannot allow them to conduct their businesses on the road in violation of Nairobi City's planning laws.

This was after Nairobi county government moved to court to challenge an order issued to the hawkers.

The order, issued to Eastleigh Hawker's Association, allowed the group to continue with their trade.

They were allowed to do business in the disputed area until the matter is heard and determined.

The High court, in that regard, halted an eviction order issued by the county.

But on Monday, Nairobi county moved to court saying that the presence of hawkers in the area disrupted businesses at the malls.

The county asked the court to set aside the orders which allowed the hawkers to conduct their businesses at the premises.

Lawyer Tom Ojienda, representing Nairobi county, said the fight between the two groups has led to high rates of insecurity in the area.

Ojienda further argued that hawkers have made it impossible for the county government to collect revenue through business permits and licenses.

Senior resident magistrate Isaac Orenge of the Commercial Court granted Nairobi county the said orders.

Mall owners in Eastleigh and hawkers have been fighting over business space in the trading hub.

Shops in Eastleigh were closed for the better part of last week following protests by mall owners against the court order given to the hawkers.

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