The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill, 2023, is set to make its way to the floor of the National Assembly after Senate sponsor, Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri, nominated Kilifi North MP Owen Baya as its co-sponsor in the lower House.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula on Tuesday informed MPs that Okenyuri had exercised provisions under Senate Standing Order 162 to nominate Baya to shepherd the Bill through the Assembly.
The Bill, which seeks to formally recognise street vending as a legitimate economic activity, will undergo its First Reading before being committed to the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
“Honourable Members, pursuant to Standing Order 143(1)(b) of the National Assembly, the Hon. Owen Baya will now assume the role of co-sponsor of the Bill and will be responsible for marshaling its consideration in the National Assembly,” the Speaker said.The Bill, passed by the Senate in August, proposes wide-ranging reforms to protect street vendors from harassment, arbitrary eviction, and confiscation of goods while providing a structured regulatory framework for the sector.
Among its key provisions is the creation of a national registry of street vendors and the introduction of a licensing system in collaboration with county governments. Counties will be required to designate vending zones classified as restriction-free, restricted, or no-vending zones.
The proposed law also obliges county governments to develop vending plans, provide amenities such as lighting, sanitation, and waste management, and progressively build and maintain vending centres. Vendors operating outside the designated framework risk fines of up to Sh10,000 or six months in jail.
Supporters of the Bill argue that it will end decades of uncertainty for thousands of hawkers and small traders who often face harassment from enforcement officers. However, concerns have been raised over implementation challenges, potential licensing costs, and the risk of corruption in the designation of vending zones.
With Baya now formally on board, the Bill is expected to ignite debate in the National Assembly, where lawmakers will weigh its promise of safeguarding livelihoods against concerns around urban planning, public order, and enforcement.
