NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi County Assembly members have passed a motion directing the county government to relocate street vendors to designated backstreets and regulated pop-up markets, aiming to tackle congestion and improve order in Kenya’s capital.
The motion, spearheaded by Umoja 1 MCA and Minority Whip Mark Mugambi, compels Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration to allocate specific zones for hawkers and streamline their registration and licensing.
The initiative also includes plans to enhance security and ensure a transparent licensing process, reducing the vulnerability of traders to exploitation.
Speaking during the motion’s debate, Mugambi emphasized that unregulated street vending has not only disrupted mobility but also exposed traders to extortion by enforcement officers.
“We want to create a win-win solution where vendors can work in designated areas without fear of harassment, while ensuring Nairobi’s streets are accessible,” Mugambi remarked.
This motion seeks to revive the dormant Nairobi City County Pop-Up Markets and Street Vending Act of 2019, which outlined a framework for licensing vendors and maintaining a database to track their activities.
The law also mandated the county to classify trading zones as Unrestricted, Restricted, or Prohibited, with the approved areas published in national newspapers.
An estimated 40,000 street vendors operate in Nairobi, with around 5,000 trading daily in the Central Business District (CBD).
Over the years, hawkers have encroached on walkways, markets, and business premises, drawing complaints from formal retailers about reduced customer flow and blocked entrances.
The city’s once-celebrated reputation as the “Green City in the Sun” has dimmed, with street congestion and waste management becoming persistent challenges.
Governor Sakaja, who previously vowed not to evict hawkers outright, had proposed in his manifesto a structured plan allowing hawkers to operate within the CBD during specific hours—between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The motion aligns with his administration’s broader vision of balancing the interests of informal traders and other city stakeholders.
Non-compliance with the regulations outlined in the 2019 Act could result in penalties, including fines of up to KSh 30,000 or imprisonment for six months.
The motion, spearheaded by Umoja 1 MCA and Minority Whip Mark Mugambi, compels Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration to allocate specific zones for hawkers and streamline their registration and licensing.
The initiative also includes plans to enhance security and ensure a transparent licensing process, reducing the vulnerability of traders to exploitation.
Speaking during the motion’s debate, Mugambi emphasized that unregulated street vending has not only disrupted mobility but also exposed traders to extortion by enforcement officers.
“We want to create a win-win solution where vendors can work in designated areas without fear of harassment, while ensuring Nairobi’s streets are accessible,” Mugambi remarked.
This motion seeks to revive the dormant Nairobi City County Pop-Up Markets and Street Vending Act of 2019, which outlined a framework for licensing vendors and maintaining a database to track their activities.
The law also mandated the county to classify trading zones as Unrestricted, Restricted, or Prohibited, with the approved areas published in national newspapers.
An estimated 40,000 street vendors operate in Nairobi, with around 5,000 trading daily in the Central Business District (CBD).
Over the years, hawkers have encroached on walkways, markets, and business premises, drawing complaints from formal retailers about reduced customer flow and blocked entrances.
The city’s once-celebrated reputation as the “Green City in the Sun” has dimmed, with street congestion and waste management becoming persistent challenges.
Governor Sakaja, who previously vowed not to evict hawkers outright, had proposed in his manifesto a structured plan allowing hawkers to operate within the CBD during specific hours—between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The motion aligns with his administration’s broader vision of balancing the interests of informal traders and other city stakeholders.
Non-compliance with the regulations outlined in the 2019 Act could result in penalties, including fines of up to KSh 30,000 or imprisonment for six months.
