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{
    "id": 1444076,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1444076/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "content": "The other issue is about our authorities. We dealt with the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Bill. We are looking at authorities that will have many businesses to get money from. My plea is that these authorities should not treat traders in a punitive manner because we look forward to encouraging these traders to do well in the areas they are engaging in. The moment you punish innocent citizens who have no idea of what is expected of them, we will be discouraging them from engaging in business. Initially, in this country, we saw the defunct local authorities having challenges in moving traders from one point to another. We are still experiencing the same challenge. This Bill will provide for a structured way of moving traders from one point to their designated areas. When this is done, it will make it easier for you to search for what you want. For example, if you want to purchase certain kinds of baby items, you will know where to go and get them. I saw this arrangement when I travelled to Dubai. Street vending happens even late at night because security is provided for those businesses. They have no problem paying taxes because they have security, water and sanitation. People are comfortably conducting their business without the little challenges here and there currently facing third world countries like Kenya. I feel that this House needs to support me in seeing this to fruition. In my county of origin, we have several women who sell vegetables on the roadside. They have not moved to the markets because we do not have a structured way of accommodating them. Like I said, strategic planning for different towns was done way back. We need to readjust to accommodate such people who engage in businesses. Mr. Speaker, Sir, all that we are suggesting is not new. All of us want to align to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In different countries across the world, informal trading is not a new thing. It is only that in Kenya, we want to put into law, so that we do not have these informal traders harassed. Every other time I watch news or read about statistics, there are very sad cases where you find women travelling all the way from Mlolongo to sell their products in Nairobi City County. Their products sometimes end up being confiscated. Why would you confiscate someone's items, subject them to arrest and eventually destroy those items? Once you arrest someone engaging in such kind of trade, if they have already been penalized, do not destroy their items. Our mantra at the Kenya Kwanza Government was to dignify the work that people are doing. The moment you want to treat people in that manner, you are already doing the opposite of what we anticipated. I want to urge the young people across this country to acquaint themselves with this legislative proposal. I might not be in a position to visit all those areas and see the different small trading that you engage in, but by representing you with this proposal in this House, I believe it will go a long way in assisting many other people who will come after us. So, this is a timely Bill. I want to conclude by saying that there are so many other aspects that I might not have touched on. I went ahead to do a comparative analysis of what is happening in different countries; why having small trading areas set aside works better; why it is not working in other countries; and what some countries have done to better that kind of trade. As I mentioned, we largely talk about Singapore having done The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}