The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism met today to consider Memoranda submitted by the Central Organization of Hawkers Association of Kenya on the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 41 of 2023). 

The Association wants the Bill to allow it to keep and maintain the register of all units of street vendors in Kenya to be submitted to the Ministry of Trade and County Executive through National Secretary General at national level and branch secretaries at county level. To keep and maintain membership in the form set out by the registrar of Societies and submit the same to the Ministry of Trade for national registry for purpose of maintaining correct data and record for planning and licensing. Give register of Societies and the Ministry all required information under this Act including a copy of the constitution, minute of the meetings held names of officials and their address etc to promote full representation and protection. 

 The Street Vendors propose the establishment dispute resolution office to be housed in the office of labour in every county for refer of dispute between County Governments and Hawkers which will recommend review of resolution/authorization and by laws enacted before enactment of this Act considered as having been enacted under this Act and advice tribunal court on the way forward. 

They want the Bill to provide for the Tribunal Court to have setting in every county according to the dispute raised by the dispute resolution office to be chaired by two high court judges one to serve as chairman and another vice chairman. The director of trade to serve as a secretary of the tribunal court secretary general as a friend one high court advocate to be nominated by the Law Society of Kenya to be a member of the tribunal court. 

Lastly, it's their proposal to have 10% of the revenue raised from licensing street vendors under this Act to be returned to the organization for running secretariat and administration. 

The Committee resolved to invite the Central Organization of Hawkers Association of Kenya and the Council of Governors to take them through the Bill and get further views from them on the legislation.

The Chairperson Sen. Lenku Seki, Vice-Chairperson Sen. Esther Okenyuri, Sen. Andrew Omtatah, Sen. Betty Montet and Sen. Dr. Lelegwe Ltumbesi attended the meeting physically while Sen. Jackson Mandago joined online.