NAIROBI, Kenya – The Nairobi County government has issued a stern warning to city residents against purchasing goods from hawkers operating outside designated areas, saying those caught will face arrest alongside the illegal vendors.
The county’s Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, said on Thursday that despite the city allocating specific backlanes for hawking, many traders continue to block pedestrian walkways and key corridors, causing congestion and inconvenience to the public.
“We are stepping up enforcement efforts to ensure compliance,” Mosiria wrote in a post on X. “Going forward, enforcement will not only target hawkers operating in undesignated areas but also individuals buying from them, as they are aiding and abetting this illegality.”
The Nairobi City County Government is fully committed to restoring and maintaining order in our city. While hawkers have been allocated designated backlanes to operate from, many have continued to block pedestrian walkways, inconveniencing city residents and compromising public
The intensified crackdown comes months after Governor Johnson Sakaja ordered hawkers off major streets in a push to restore order in the capital’s central business district.
In a January 6 directive, the county government prohibited hawking along key city roads including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road.
Hawkers were instead directed to operate within a designated zone stretching from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
Under the policy, street vendors are allowed to sell their wares only between 4pm and 10pm, Monday through Saturday.
The governor’s directive followed a motion passed by Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) mandating the creation of dedicated spaces for hawkers as a way to balance economic activity with public order.
However, enforcement remains a challenge as many hawkers continue to operate in prohibited zones during peak hours, frustrating efforts to keep walkways clear and ensure smooth pedestrian flow.
County officials say the joint enforcement targeting both sellers and buyers is intended to send a strong message and improve compliance ahead of the busy back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons.
