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{
    "id": 1444120,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1444120/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 231,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "violent robberies, thuggery or other ways. We expect this sort of legislation in Nairobi to help bring order in the city. We will have streets that are designated as no-vending zone or restricted areas or restriction-free vending zones. This is very important. It is also important that there is registration of such persons, so that at any one time, we are able to monitor as a country the number of people in the vending business. It is not that they will not graduate into other businesses. People graduate from a motorbike to a tuk-tuk to a taxi or maybe to ownership of a matatu . That is the same case with those who are vending. I know of a young man, who was vending after college. He was buying some clothes from Gikomba, taking to Kitengela, selling them in small quantities. Finally, he got a job. Today, he is in one of the media houses, but he started as a vendor. It was a better way of utilizing his time than just staying in the house, not doing anything just because he is a graduate and that is not the sort of job for a graduate. We have very many of our educated young people who are vending rightfully because it is a better way of utilizing their time and also earning something small for themselves. The earnings enable them to help their parents in contributing for school fees and their upkeep in these towns. Many college students are selling items like boiled eggs and sausages in the streets. Such should be assisted to get an environment of selling that food. The hygiene standards should be maintained. The counties should make sure that there are sanitary places, washrooms and places for washing hands, so that we also contribute to the good health of the citizens of our Republic. This Bill helps a lot in regulation, registration and monitoring. In a county like Kajiado, a place like Namanga, we have our neighbors coming in to do vending. It is always good to know the number of people from the neighboring country coming in to vend. We should also secure our own vendors at the borders, like Namanga and Busia. It is good that the Kenyan Government and lawmakers start taking seriously protection of Kenyans doing businesses. We should not just protect the big international businesses, but also the smallest business. This will ensure that the infiltration from the neighboring countries is not so much that they overrun our own people. This is a relevant piece of legislation. The level of hygiene will need to be taken a notch higher when it comes to foodstuffs. Many restrictions need to be put in place not to hinder the businesses of these people, but enable them. We also need to protect the health of Kenyans such that in case harmful food that causes infections is sold, there should be a way to trace that vendor who brought food that was not okay for consumption. In cases of food poisoning, we should be able to monitor and know what happened. Probably there was chicken or fish that was sold that may have taken longer from the source to the market, and it ended up poisoning the public. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when it comes to revenue collection, it is easier when such organization and order is put in place. There are towns like Kitengela where there are many vendors on Sundays. I realized that majority of these vendors come from Nairobi. I met the same person who tried to sell me socks somewhere in Nairobi in the streets of Kitengela. I was surprised that I had seen him somewhere else. You will realize there is inter-county trading. There are people coming from Nairobi to trade in Kajiado. As they do that, there must be a way to monitor the movement of these people and help 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."
}