Sakaja sends Nairobi hawkers to the backstreets

In an order on January 6, 2025, the county government said the hawking of merchandise in the designated areas will run from Monday to Friday, 4pm-10pm. 

The county has designated backstreets within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.

“No hawking will be allowed on the main streets and roads i.e. Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road and River Road,” a notice from County Secretary Godfrey Akumali states. 

The county government seeks to allocate walkways within the CBD for only pedestrian use. 

Akumali said those found hawking in the forbidden streets will be prosecuted under county laws. 

The order follows a motion tabled by Umoja 1 Member of County Assembly Mark Mugambi that was passed by the County Assembly in November 2024. 

In a move to ease congestion in the CBD, the motion required the Sakaja’s administration to establish pop-up market spaces in the backlanes and register traders. 

For years, subsequent administrations have given various directives aim at decongesting city streets taken over by hawkers. 

In 2023, Sakaja banned hawkers along lanes connecting Moi Avenue in a deliberate plan to revamp operations on the street.

He further proposed that the affected hawkers be given priority to operate along the back lanes where they can also operate and eke out a living.