KIGALI - Following the directives from Kigali City Council (KCC) to get rid of all street vendors operating within the city, penalties for those who will be caught in the act have been made public, The New Times has established.

In an interview, Bruno Rangira, the KCC Director of Media and Communication, said that those caught in the act will on top of seizing their merchandise, be fined Rwf10, 000.

Goods seized from the vendors are given to different orphanages in the city.

This, Rangira said is one of the ways to effectively have all vendors out of the city to "bring order and security.”
"These are the people who cause commotion and poor hygiene in the city,” he said.

He added that some of the vendors indulge in pick pocketing, snatching ladies’ bags and stealing phones around town.

Nyarugenge last week became the first district to make public the penalties posting warning banners in different locations.

"We want everyone to know the repercussions of their acts because they had taken it as a joke,” Rangira said.
"They intentionally refused to operate from markets that were allocated to them.”

He dismissed claims that vendors failed to find  where to operate their businesses saying that there are still empty places in Nyamirambo, Kimisagara and Nyabugogo markets.

Last month, City Mayor, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira urged all vendors to form cooperative societies which will help them rent space for their activities. She further warned that anyone caught vending in the city "will be dealt with accordingly.”

She advised them most especially women to join basket weaving cooperative societies, which has proved a better income generating activity to thousands of Kigali women.

Close to 3000 women have since 2007 joined Agaseke cooperative societies in Kigali City under one name "Ihuriro Ibanga” earning over Rwf40,000 monthly.

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