Upholding Economic Justice: A Call to Support Informal Traders in Garissa

In recent days, the streets of Garissa have become battlegrounds in a struggle for economic survival.

At the heart of this conflict are the hardworking individuals who brave the sun’s scorching heat to sell vegetables and other essentials, striving to make ends meet for themselves and their families.

However, a recent directive from the Garissa Municipality threatens to extinguish their flickering flames of hope, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their livelihoods.

The decision to close the businesses of poor traders, particularly those vending vegetables around Suq Mugdi, is not just ill-advised—it’s fundamentally unjust.

These individuals, often referred to as “hustlers,” rely on their daily sweat and toil to put food on the table and send their children to school. To deprive them of this opportunity is to deny them the basic dignity of earning a living.

But the implications of this directive extend far beyond the individuals directly affected. The closure of these small businesses strikes at the heart of Garissa’s economy, undoing the gains made by these struggling traders and sending shockwaves throughout the community.

SMEs, often the lifeblood of local economies, are being stifled, and with them, the hopes and aspirations of an entire town.

Moreover, this heavy-handed approach fails to address the root causes of informality.

Many of these traders operate on the streets not out of choice, but out of necessity.

They may lack access to formal employment or the means to start traditional businesses.

Instead of shutting them down, the municipality should be extending a helping hand, offering support and resources to formalize their operations and improve their economic prospects.

It’s time for the Garissa Municipality to adopt a more compassionate and inclusive approach towards informal traders.

Rather than penalizing them, let us embrace them as valuable contributors to our economy and community.

Let us work together to create an environment where all businesses, regardless of size or formality, can thrive.

In the face of adversity, let us stand in solidarity with the hustlers of Garissa, affirming their right to economic justice and dignity.

Only then can we truly claim to be a society that cares for all its members, regardless of their station in life.

Abdikadir Akmoz
MA in Foreign Policy and Diplomacy