Hawkers operating in Eastleigh on Wednesday afternoon engaged police in running battles following a clash with mall owners who say the hawkers are a menace.
Police officers were forced to disperse the warring factions who clashed over working space. This comes barely a week after a court in Nairobi issued a directive to the County Government not to evict hawkers operating in Eastleigh Avenue 1 and 2 pending hearing and determination of a case in court.
The orders were issued after Eastleigh Hawkers’ Association moved to court to stop Nairobi City County Government from evicting them from where they conduct their businesses until a designated area is built for them.
They argue that they derive their livelihood from hawking, adding that they would have no place to run their business if the respondents evict them.
The Eastleigh Hawkers’ Association accused the mall owners of insincerity and grabbing public land, leaving them with no option.