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Post-election violence in Kenya disrupts lives of street vendors and informal traders
By Evalyne Wanyama, KENASVIT National Co-ordinator
On 27th December 2007, Kenyans went to the ballot box to elect the tenth parliament against a background of various election pledges made by the various candidates to improve their lives. However, the events that followed regarding the presidential vote tallying and eventual announcement of the winner, plunged the country into violence and chaos that has severely affected members of the Kenya National Alliance of Street Vendors and Informal Traders (KENASVIT) and Kenyans in general. This report focuses on the impact of the violence on members of KENASVIT located in Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu and Migori towns. Machakos alliance was least affected by the violence. The spontaneous outbreak of violence left a trail of destruction in the form of displacement from homes, displacement from trading sites, suspicion, injuries and loss of lives, loss of property, reduced incomes and stagnation of Associations’ activities as detailed below.
During the skirmishes, several street vendors were injured and others lost their lives and their loved ones. Others fled from their homes to seek refuge in churches, schools and police camps as their houses were vandalised and/or set ablaze by the attackers. The brutality, coupled with desperation and homelessness, has caused immeasurable trauma to the affected traders. Some displaced members migrated to other towns or their ancestral homes and only time will tell whether they will come back to their places of work. Those living in the displaced people’s camps have to contend with inadequate supplies of food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, medical care and education for their children. Some displaced traders are carrying on with their business on the streets while living in the camps.
During the protests, many street vendors lost their business items to looters and/or arsonists given that they operate from the streets, which are usually the combat zones. Household items and business property worth millions of shillings have been lost by KENASVIT members during this crisis. The prices of basic commodities have gone up, thus making life very difficult for the displaced and poor people in Kenya. Working hours have reduced as traders open late and close early for security reasons. In some towns like Nakuru which is under curfew, the hawkers who used to sell to night travellers are forced to work during the day only. Low business and the volatile nature of life in the affected towns has left street vendors who had loans unable to service them. Payment of municipal council rates has been equally affected. However, business is slowly going back to normal. Suspicion among traders is still high as some traders evict their colleagues from their trading sites. KENASVIT leaders are trying to intervene but it’s clear that a concerted effort is needed to address this problem.
Association life for KENASVIT members came to a halt as members struggled to save their lives and possessions. The communication hitches made it difficult to reach out to members and the government also outlawed all public gatherings except religious ones. However, the ban is now lifted and peace, reconciliation and work-related meetings are allowed. It is within this premise that KENASVIT National Office has asked all affiliates to call meetings with the grass root members to assess the impact of the crisis on each member and chart a way forward.
Post-election violence dealt a major blow to the national fabric, and restoration of peace is a matter of priority for all Kenyans. KENASVIT has joined other state and non-state actors in this effort. KENASVIT members fully support the mediation effort led by the former UN Secretary Koffi Annan, to find a peaceful resolution to the political crisis. KENASVIT supports key resolutions from the mediation team such as the review of the constitution and the enactment of the national land policy as a means of redressing historical injustices and preventing recurrence of such problems in future.
To bring members back together, KENASVIT National Office is planning to undertake a peace and reconciliation programme at all levels of the organisation. It also seeks collaboration with other stake-holders to provide counselling services to the traumatised members to enable them move on with their lives. Community policing programmes shall be under taken in collaboration with relevant authorities to rid the streets of criminal elements so that street vendors can work well. To carry out these activities KENASVIT needs support from partners and friends.
To conclude, KENASVIT members are appealing to all comrades in StreetNet to show their solidarity by sending solidarity messages to Kenyan leaders to keep peace and resolve the conflict as soon as possible so that street vendors can work in peace.