Commonly referred to as jua kali also, these traders produce or purchase goods for resale. They comprise the highest percentage of the informal sector after the agro based (farmers).

Their biggest segment are the hawkers in all major towns in the country, and selling agro based products, body wares and all other important necessities in the citizens lives. This segment of the informal economy is dominated by women and youth who haven’t secured formal employment.

Serious challenges that face this sub sector of the informal sector is the lack of space for the overwhelming population of traders, secondly the lack of proper laws and policies to guide their business and protect them from harassment, extortion within and outside the sector.