Hawkers who were recently relocated from the Nakuru town CBD now want the county government to stop collecting market levies from them until they fully settle down.
The hawkers through their union representatives claimed that ever since they were moved to their new places they have not settled since they do not have customers and cannot therefore afford the daily market dues charged by the county government.
Speaking on Saturday morning at the Wakulima market, Nakuru Hawkers Association Chairman Simon Ole Naiseiku said that the hawkers should be given enough time to settle down and stabilise before they resume paying the market dues.
“Most hawkers have not even settled down, some of them have not even sold a single item ever since they came here and we therefore want the government to halt the collection of daily market dues so that they give us time to get composed after the eviction,” said Nasieku.
Wakulima market Chairman David Mwangi said that county officials should be stopped from harassing hawkers whom cannot afford to pay the daily market charges because they do not have money.
“Askaris should desist from carrying items belonging to hawkers who cannot afford to pay the daily charges because doing so is even worsening the situation. The best thing for the government to do is to allow us settle before they can start putting more pressure on us with the charges issue,” said Mwangi.