The proliferation of hawkers in Thika town CBD has started to rub the town residents the wrong way with pedestrian and motorists now calling the county authorities to deal with the menace.
Pedestrians have accused the hawkers of blocking their walkways and non-motorised lanes where they are supposed to use to avoid busy roads and causing traffic on highways.
"Though all of us appreciate the hawkers efforts to earn a living through selling to us their wares at an affordable price, they are now becoming a headache because they have entirely taken over all the pedestrians walkways and lanes. It is very hard to manoeuvre through these lanes especially in the evening because the hawkers are all over," Anastasia Wanjiku, a clerk at a local bank said on Thursday.
They are further accusing the hawkers of harbouring pickpockets in the town as thugs posing as genuine buyers stand along the walkways with different intentions.
"I have lost my wallet twice and my phone once while squeezing through the crowded lanes. Pickpockets who pretend to be buying from the hawkers take advantage of the crowds to snatch valuables from us. It is just last week that one pickpocket was almost stoned to death near Thika Stadium while trying to snatch a phone from a lady but was saved by Police," said Francis Muriu, a boutique operator in the town.
Motorists accuse the hawkers of dangerously setting 'shops' on the road side sometimes even blocking their visibility.
"The law of the jungle has of late taken over this town because hawkers have been left to operate wherever they want. They are not only putting their lives in danger when they set shops very near the roads but also endanger the lives of other road users," Steve Msyoka, a Manchester Bus driver said.
However, the hawkers blame the county government for not setting aside a place where they can do their business.
"We are not about to leave this town because we have to continue living. The county askaris keep on chasing us from the town centre but they do not show us where to go and that is why we end up in the CBD again and again," Michael Waweru, a hawker said on Thursday.