MOMBASA TURNED INTO BATTLE ZONE AS STREET TRADERS RIOT

Police officers removes some of the materials used in setting a bonfire by hawkers along Abdelnasser road in Mombasa on 10 February after the hawkers were forcefully evicted from the central business district. By ANTHONY KITIMO and AMINA KIBIRIGEPosted Tuesday, June 2 2009 at 18:33 The Coast Provincial Commissioner drove into the Mombasa Municipal Stadium for the Madaraka Day celebrations led by phalanx of armed Administration Police. And both the mayor and town clerk called for security reinforcement at their homes, fearing attacks.Violent confrontations have become a regular feature between hawkers and the police in Mombasa. The streets have been turned into war zones characterised by daily patrols of special police force formed to deal with the hawker menace driving in full riot gear in the streets and alleys. Serious war For the past two weeks, the street traders have waged war against the council demanding to be allowed back to the main streets for business. This means top regional officials have to be driven around in security convoys for fear of being attacked. Two weeks ago, the hawkers fearlessly engaged the police and council askaris in a furious exchange of tear gas canisters and stones that forced even the area police boss seeking refuge in a mosque. The hawkers set ablaze a new Sh50 million fire engine and promised to disrupt all government functions including the Madaraka Day celebrations. But a few days after the riots, some hawkers are coming out to disown the violence. Mombasa Informal Traders group vice- chairman Omar Lebaleba said his group had remained calm and stuck to dialogue to resolve disputes. “I have been a hawker since 1993 and at no time have we made such violent decisions. “We believe there are people who are settling their own differences with the local administrators who are trying to take advantage of our situation,” Mr Lebaleba told the Nation. The pavementsHe said the market, previously at Buxton, could only accommodate 540 traders locking out about 960 others and no amount of explanation could convince the council to allow them back to the pavements. “It was unfortunate that we were immediately pushed out of the Mbaraki zone by police for causing a security threat to the nearby police station but we still haven’t lost hope,” he said. Those lucky are now settled at the new Buxton market where they are conducting their business peacefully. At one time, the traders even took to the streets demanding the resignation of mayor Ahmed Mohdhar for issuing the eviction notice. There was a 30-minute stand-off at the provincial headquarters after more than 1,500 hawkers armed with placards and chanting songs tried to force their way into the compound to be addressed by provincial commissioner Earnest Munyi. On realising that their efforts were bearing no fruit, the agitated hawkers pelted motorists with stones, forcing police officers to throw tear gas canisters at them. Regular police, anti-riot police and council askaris had for a whole week battled with the street traders, day and night, to enforce the order that the street traders should either move to the new bus terminus at Buxton or the Mbaraki grounds opposite the police station.