Handcart. Photo | courtesy.
Nairobi county assembly is planning to issue number plates to handcarts, animal-driven carts, trolleys and wheelbarrows in a bid to decongest the Central Business District (CBD).
In a motion tabled by Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai, the city county assembly seeks to address safety concerns within the CBD streets.
The policies proposed include introduction of reflective jackets, number plates and insurance coverage to third parties. It also seeks to enforce discipline on road usage and among non-motorized vehicle owners.
Should the motion pass, non-motorized vehicle owners that include hawkers using trolleys, carts and wheelbarrows will have a six-month grace period to acquire the number plates.
For years Nairobi CBD has suffered excessive congestion as a result of hawking activities. The plan to issue number plates to handcarts, trolleys and wheelbarrows comes after the city county banned hawking in the CBD in a bid to reduce congestion.
The move attracted a lot of condemnation from hawkers who protested the directive. Many small business owners (hawkers) found themselves at the receiving end of the directive as their businesses were greatly affected.
Should Alai’s motion sails through the city county assembly, it’s a wait and see how handcart owners and businesses dependent on it will be impacted.
