Vendor stalls around stadiums

I usually sell food and drinks outside football stadiums on match days. Recently, city officials instructed us to pack up, stating that we were operating illegally and blocking access. Well, the access point is true because on match day, there are usually a lot of people and vehicles, and movement becomes difficult even for the vendors. But this is how I support my family. Do I have any right to continue selling there?
GB, Arusha

Street vending and hawking are regulated by the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act, Cap. 288 [R.E. 2023] and specific by-laws of each city or municipality. Most councils require vendors to have a business license and to trade only in designated areas. Selling outside stadiums without authorisation can be treated as a violation of local by-laws, especially where safety and crowd control are at stake.

While city officials have the power to remove you, councils are also obliged to provide designated vending spaces for wamachinga. We are not sure your whether your previous business was licensed. Nonetheless, if you wish to continue trading and support your family, you should apply for a licence or permit through your city authority, which may assign stalls within or near stadium areas, depending on the regulations in place. That way, you operate lawfully and avoid harassment. In short, you have the right to trade but only in compliance with licensing and location rules set by the local government.