NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi County is set to introduce a formal registration and identification system for street photographers and creatives, with recognised operators receiving official badges to distinguish them from unregistered workers.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced the initiative on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during a meeting with hundreds of street photographers and other creatives in the capital.
The registration system will give street creatives a formal identity while allowing the county government to establish a database of photographers working across Nairobi, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD).
Sakaja said the move would help City Hall identify and support creatives while addressing some of the challenges they face while working on Nairobi’s streets.
“The County will introduce a formal registration and identification system for street photographers, including badges, to distinguish recognised creatives operating in the city,” Sakaja said.
The badges will serve as county identification for recognised street photographers and creatives as they carry out their work in public spaces.
The county plans to establish a comprehensive database of street photographers operating in the CBD as part of the new registration framework.
The database will give City Hall a direct link to creatives working in the sector and provide a basis for future engagement and support.
Street photography has become a source of income for many young people in Nairobi, particularly around busy areas such as Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue, Muindi Mbingu Street and the area around the National Archives.
Many photographers operate as freelancers, taking portraits and other photographs for clients who encounter them in the city.
Sakaja said the county’s identification system would help organise the growing sector while giving legitimate operators a formal identity.
“The initiative will enable the County to identify and support photographers while giving them a formal identity as they carry out their work,” he said.
The announcement follows concerns raised by photographers about their experiences while working in the CBD.
Some creatives have reported harassment, disruption of their work and demands for unofficial payments. The new identification system is expected to make it easier for registered photographers to demonstrate that they are recognised by the county.
The registration announcement comes amid a wider debate over filming and photography charges introduced under the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2026.
Sakaja has maintained that ordinary street photographers and small-scale content creators are not the target of the charges. The governor previously clarified that the Finance Act provisions were aimed at professional and commercial film productions that require extensive use of public spaces and county infrastructure.
“These charges were never intended to target ordinary content creators, influencers or young people creating digital content,” Sakaja said in August.
He explained that the county distinguishes between an individual creating content for social media and a large commercial production that arrives with a crew, vehicles, specialised equipment and potentially requires controlled use of public infrastructure.
According to Sakaja, the county’s arrangement allowing street photographers to work without photography fees remains in place.
Sakaja said Nairobi’s decision to allow street photographers to operate freely dates back to 2022, when the county sought to create employment opportunities for young people while promoting creativity and marketing the capital.
“In 2022, I made a decision to let photographers in town do photography for free, not only to create jobs for our youth, but also to improve creativity and market our city,” he said.
The governor now wants the county to build on that arrangement by creating a more structured relationship with street photographers.
He also encouraged the creatives to form cooperatives and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) to strengthen their financial position.
The county is also preparing to roll out free Wi-Fi in selected parts of Nairobi, which Sakaja said would help creatives market their work online and reach wider audiences.
Beyond photography, Sakaja wants street creatives to play a broader role in documenting Nairobi. He urged photographers to showcase the city’s landmarks, businesses, people and everyday life while also documenting issues affecting public spaces.
The governor asked them to report incidents such as littering, illegal dumping and vandalism through the appropriate county channels. He also mentioned improper conduct involving public transport operators, including matatus and boda bodas.
Sakaja said photographers should, however, respect the privacy and personal space of members of the public while carrying out their work.
“Be our ambassadors of the city. Use photographs to tell the good story and also condemn vices. However, respect people’s privacy and be professional as it should be,” he said.
Despite announcing the registration and identification framework, the county has not yet given a specific date when street photographers will begin registering or when the badges will be issued.
The administration is expected to provide further details on the registration process, including where creatives will register, the requirements for registration and how the identification badges will be issued.
