Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has told county governors to desist from harassing hawkers in urban areas.
Speaking in Nairobi during a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the Hustlers Fund, Gachagua said leaders in the counties should allow hawkers to fend for themselves.
Gachagua said hawkers are law-abiding people who should be allowed to sell their wares.
“On the streets, they sell their wares and go home. Elected leaders should love them the way they did when they were looking for votes,” he said.
The DP said county governments should not allow wealthy people to push them to get rid of hawkers.
“The sight of hustlers should not irritate anybody. We should love them the way we did as they lined up to vote for us."
Gachagua claimed wealthy businessmen campaigned against Kenya Kwanza in the run up to last year’s General Elections.
“Wealthy people did not want us, it is the hustlers who voted for us,” he stated.
He urged counties to join the national government in supporting the ordinary people to earn a living.
“We are asking all governors to join the national government to respect and support hustlers. They are wonderful people who need to be encouraged and supported because they are the solution to the country’s economic problems since they are hard working individuals,” he said.
Gachagua said the Hustlers Fund has transformed lives by promoting financial inclusivity.
Last month, Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja said no hawkers would be allowed to operate along lanes connecting to Moi Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District.
He further proposed that the affected hawkers be given priority to operate along the back lanes and earn a living.
Recent months have witnessed a marked increase in the number of hawkers in the Nairobi City Central Business District and its environs.