SIX street urchins in Mombasa are sleeping in kiosks built by the county government for hawkers moved from the central business district.
The hawkers say they cannot afford Sh10,000 a month for rent and a goodwill of Sh50,000.
Most of the kiosks have remained closed for months as hawkers play cat and mouse with county inspectorate officers.
Stalls behind the Kenya Revenue Authority offices and on Moi Avenue remain unoccupied.
The street children broke into the kiosks behind the KRA office.
Trader Irene Mueni said: “Most of us are small retailers and we do not make reasonable profit. You require a stock of about Sh500,000 to pay rent and other levies, which is too much for us.”
Hawkers who have occupied kiosks in the CBD said there is no electricity and toilets.
“I can sell my clothes until late into the night if there is light. But I close at 6pm while there are plenty of potential customers in town,” Peter Musyimi said.
“The lights would increase security.”
Traders complain some stalls are in less populated areas and they will incur losses if they occupy them.
Last year, the county started moving 3,000 hawkers from the CBD.
When the Star tried to find out if the county plans to lower the rent, Trade executive Mohamed Abdi directed us to the hawkers’ leaders.
“Let the hawkers write to us on the issues they want addressed, not address us through the media,” he said on the phone.
The stalls are part of the county government’s effort to improve and promote business.
