The County Government of Uasin Gishu is planning to relocate more than 300 hawkers from the Eldoret Central Business District (CBD) to other markets in the outskirts of the town.
The hawkers will be relocated to their new market that was built near Sosiani River for the purpose of reducing congestion in the town.
Despite the process being expected to be peaceful, the county has cautioned hawkers who will attempt to resist the move by saying that rebellious hawkers will be forcefully evicted from the town centre.
Apart from that new market, the Uasin Gishu county government is also renovating West market in order to accommodate more hawkers.
The Deputy Governor of Uasin Gishu County, Mr Daniel Chemno said the aim of the relocation is to reduce congestion in the streets of Eldoret town which is majorly caused by the high number of hawkers in the town.
Mr. Chemno alleged that some hawkers have contributed to the increase in crime rate in CBD by saying that there are some individuals who masquerade to be hawkers in order to get avenue to execute their felony in town.
He further said that the move is geared towards creating a conducive environment for all investors in the town centre.
He refuted claims that the county’s reinforcement officers were victimising hawkers along tribal lines.
“What is happening in the town is normal process of decongesting the town to ensure a viable environment for all stakeholders without favouritism basing on tribalism which has marred the whole exercise of relocating them from CBD,” said Mr. Chemno.