Marsabit traders decry unfair competition by hawkers

Traders with Marsabit town are now accusing hawkers of blocking the premises while blocking their clients.

Led by businessman Roba Sereqa, the traders say the move has subjected them to unfair competition by the hawkers.

Sereqa said despite the competition with hawkers, they pay taxes and rental fees for their stalls.

The businessman said, as a result, the traders have been forced to cut down prices of their goods to match with that of the hawkers who sell cheaply.

"It is unfair to us since it affects our prices yet we are the ones who pay taxes," he said.

Sereqa said for ages the hawker's menace has been a thorny issue for genuine business.

According to him, the hawkers deliberately block roads and fronts of their premises making it hard for them to make sales.

The traders further lauded the county government's decision to lower license fees.

The county executive committee member for finance Boru Malicha said the county government has recently introduced new rules and charges to guide hawkers.

He said one of the proposals in the Finance Act is for street vendors to pay double to what they previously paid.

"There has been a rise in the number of street hawking activities with Marsabit town, the vendors often engage in running battles with county enforcement officers but we are putting mechanisms in place that will restore order," he said.

Malicha said amid efforts to relieve the burden to county businesspeople, the county government has reduced license fees by Sh500.

This he said will play a key role in motivating small scale traders to do their business at an affordable charge.

While urging the traders to stick to the new finance Act until a review on the complaints raised is done especially on Gtz building and self-built stalls on county ground, Malicha asked them to embrace public participation.

He said it is their responsibility to point out and prioritise their development needs by attending and making contributions during public participation forums.

"You should take an interest in the preparation of an annual development plan so that you can state your priorities and expectations," he said.