Chaos on Eastleigh street as traders clash over space
By Abdirahman Khalif |
With Eastleigh bursting with business people, local authorities need to reconsider their approach to managing trading spaces, ensuring a fair and orderly environment for everyone.
Chaos erupted in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Thursday afternoon when two business people fought over a trading space.
A woman identified only as Halima had just set up her table when a man identified only as Jibril forcibly removed it, claiming he owned the space along Second Avenue.
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"This is my space, and I will defend it," Jibril said, adding Halima's presence would interfere with his business activities.
The situation quickly escalated as other traders and pedestrians rushed to Halima's aid, noting anybody could use the public space so Halima had every right to conduct her business there.
A fight ensued when the relatives and friends of a man named Ahmed confronted those supporting Halima. The scuffle quickly drew a big crowd that witnessed a physical altercation unfold before them.
A crowd watches as traders engage in a confrontation over space along Second Avenue in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on January 25, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Witness Abdirashid Aato accused Jibril of greed, saying he feared losing customers to Halima.
"Jibril thinks all his customers will buy from the lady. It's not a nice way to think, especially in business," he said.
Two city askaris arrived at the scene and tried to solve the issue but their attempts proved futile as the crowd showed no willingness to listen. The askaris eventually gave up.
It's common in Eastleigh for traders to frequently engage in conflicts over trading spaces. The neighbourhood, a key business hub in Nairobi, has many small and medium-sized businesses as well as thousands of hawkers.
City askaris allegedly collect cash from the hawkers every month to protect them from mall owners and other hawkers who might claim ownership of their trading spaces.
With Eastleigh bursting with business people, local authorities need to reconsider their approach to managing trading spaces, ensuring a fair and orderly environment for everyone, and preventing conflicts that could quickly escalate.
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