Nairobi, Kenya — In a bid to restore order in the streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a directive relegating hawkers to designated backstreets.
The new order, effective from January 6, 2025, aims to clear main streets for pedestrian use and ease congestion in the city.
According to a county government notice, hawkers will now operate between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the backstreets within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
This move follows a motion passed by the County Assembly in November 2024, tabled by Umoja 1 Member of County Assembly Mark Mugambi, which called for the establishment of pop-up market spaces in backlanes and the registration of traders.
“No hawking will be allowed on the main streets and roads such as Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road,” County Secretary Godfrey Akumali emphasized in the notice.
Violators will face prosecution under county laws.
The directive is part of a broader effort to allocate walkways in the CBD exclusively for pedestrian use, enhancing the urban experience for city dwellers and visitors alike.
Governor Sakaja’s administration is keen on addressing the perennial issue of congestion, a challenge that has plagued previous administrations.
In 2023, Governor Sakaja banned hawkers from lanes connecting Moi Avenue in a strategic move to revamp street operations.
He also proposed prioritizing affected hawkers for spaces in backlanes, enabling them to continue their trade and sustain their livelihoods.
The new order, effective from January 6, 2025, aims to clear main streets for pedestrian use and ease congestion in the city.
According to a county government notice, hawkers will now operate between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the backstreets within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
This move follows a motion passed by the County Assembly in November 2024, tabled by Umoja 1 Member of County Assembly Mark Mugambi, which called for the establishment of pop-up market spaces in backlanes and the registration of traders.
“No hawking will be allowed on the main streets and roads such as Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road,” County Secretary Godfrey Akumali emphasized in the notice.
Violators will face prosecution under county laws.
The directive is part of a broader effort to allocate walkways in the CBD exclusively for pedestrian use, enhancing the urban experience for city dwellers and visitors alike.
Governor Sakaja’s administration is keen on addressing the perennial issue of congestion, a challenge that has plagued previous administrations.
In 2023, Governor Sakaja banned hawkers from lanes connecting Moi Avenue in a strategic move to revamp street operations.
He also proposed prioritizing affected hawkers for spaces in backlanes, enabling them to continue their trade and sustain their livelihoods.
