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{
    "id": 1444071,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1444071/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In other developed democracies, street vending is a huge thing and there are designated places where they do their vending. If you remember, the last time we went with you visit to Turkey as the Powers and Privileges Committee, I had an opportunity to visit some of the vending zones that had been set aside for street vendors. I was impressed to see the levels of hygiene in those areas. I compared that to my country and I felt that we need to have a very organized and dignified way that our street vendors can make money for themselves and our county and national Government. Street vending has largely been looked at as a very small business. However, this is not a small business as people see it. It is a huge sector because they are the ones who are running this economy. We do not put huge money in this sector, but whatever little they are putting together is what is enabling this economy to run. In the recent past, we have seen headlines of how street vendors have been handled badly in this country, especially in Nairobi City County. We saw some time back a disabled lady who was selling eggs in Embakasi have her eggs thrown away. She was also carried away with her wheelchair. We should not be witnessing such kinds of harassment to people who are contributing to this economy. Instead, we need to look at how better to place them, so that they do their business in a dignified manner. This will make it easy for the county and national Government to collect tax from these kinds of businesses. The other reason we need to have street vending and have designated areas is to restore order in the cities. Look at the cities of Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa. We want visitors coming in from the rural areas to come to a clean city. This can only happen when we have a joint effort with the stakeholders in this sector and the Government. This will ensure that the street vendors do not look at this Bill as one that is curtailing their business, but making them do business easily. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when I was coming up with this, we had an opportunity to have most of the organizations come to the table and present what they felt needed to be accommodated by this legislative proposal. We took up most of the suggestions that were brought up by the street vendors. I look forward to having political goodwill, especially from the county governments."
}