By Wasike Elvis
Hawkers in the county have been urged to join Saccos for them to benefit from the funds being given
by the Government. Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno also said only registered hawkers will be given space to do business, adding: “We wish all the registered members could be given identification tags which will aid us in knowing
them better”, he said. “Our aim is to ensure all hawkers are empowered financially through our loans that we give at the lowest interest of 5 per cent,” Chemno noted during the launch of Uasin Gishu Hawkers Sacco in Eldoret recently.
The meeting was also aimed at sensitizing the hawkers on management skills and how to go about their businesses.
Chemno further asked the hawkers to always engage in continuous dialogue to ensure good relationship with County Government, saying they should not always engage in demonstrations whenever issues arise. The Executive in charge of Trade, Industrialization, Enterprise Development, Co-operatives and Enterprise Development, Philip Mely said that as a department they are willing to support and work with the hawkers.
He said the County Government has identified well lit streets in Eldoret town which will be used by the hawkers during evenings and weekends
. He further noted that the County Government is giving them enterprise funds which would go a long way in helping them enhance their businesses and urged them to maximize the use of these funds. “In this financial year we allocated Sh80 million to Saccos and in the next financial year we will increase it to Sh100 million for more people to benefit,” said Melly.
Giving his remarks, the Director in charge of Licensing and Compliance, Silas Letting asked the hawkers to read a compliance document given to them and also pay revenue in time, saying this would help them avoid disruption of their businesses.
