Street Vendors face October 1 deadline.

KMC Public Relations Manager Chris Mulaliki said the council had observed an increase in street vending and trading in undesignated areas, resulting in congestion, obstruction of pedestrians, poor waste management and potential public health and safety risks.

Mr Mulaliki said the council had more than 1,000 trading spaces available in gazetted markets across the district.

“Vendors should use the remaining period to voluntarily relocate their businesses to designated markets. We will continue engaging vendors and other stakeholders to facilitate an orderly transition,” he said.

He warned that the council would commence enforcement measures after the October 1 deadline against vendors operating in undesignated areas.

“Street vending is illegal under the Local Government Act, read together with Statutory Instrument Number 12 of 2018 on Street Vending and Nuisances Regulations,” Mr Mulaliki said.

He said council police officers would conduct enforcement operations to ensure vendors returned to designated markets and that illegal temporary structures were removed without further notice.

Mr Mulaliki appealed to vendors, traders and members of the public to cooperate with the initiative, saying the objective was not to prevent people from earning a living but to promote orderly trading, clean surroundings and public safety.