By MKT Reporter
Street vendors in Nyeri have called for more public awareness and better coordination with small business owners before the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill, 2023 is passed into law.
The traders spoke during a public participation forum held by a sub-committee of the National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
They said their views should be included to ensure the law does not harm their businesses.
Many vendors raised concerns about the requirement for licensing and the restriction of vending to specific zones.
They said this does not match how their businesses operate.
One vendor gave an example of a person who has extra eggs at home and decides to sell them on the street. Such a person, they said, may not manage to get a license since they are not a regular trader.
The vendors also opposed the penalties for unauthorized vending. The bill states that anyone selling in a restricted or non-vending area without a permit may face a fine of up to KSh10,000, six months in jail, or both.
Traders said this punishment is too harsh, especially since most of them earn between KSh500 and KSh1,000 per day.
They also warned that the law could give county enforcement officers too much power, which may lead to harassment.
According to the vendors, their work cannot always be limited to one place since they move to where the traffic is.
The traders rejected the bill in its current form, saying some clauses are unfair and may hurt small businesses.
Sub-committee chairperson and Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina assured them that their concerns will be considered.
He said the bill aims to protect vendors and improve their working conditions.
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