Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja aims to restore order in the Central Business District (CBD) by moving hawkers to designated backstreets.
In a directive issued on January 6, 2025, the Nairobi County Government announced new rules for hawkers. They are now allowed to operate in specific backstreets from Monday to Friday, between 4 PM and 10 PM. The designated hawking zones stretch from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
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Main streets off-limits
The county banned hawking along major streets, including:
- Moi Avenue
- Haile Selassie Avenue
- Kenneth Matiba Road
- Ronald Ngala Street
- Mfangano Street
- River Road, among others.
According to County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, any hawkers found in these restricted areas will face prosecution under county laws. The county government plans to keep walkways in the CBD exclusively for pedestrians.
This directive follows a motion presented by Umoja 1 MCA Mark Mugambi, which was passed in November 2024. The motion called for the creation of pop-up markets in backstreets and registration of hawkers to ease congestion in the CBD.
Governor Sakaja emphasized that affected traders would be prioritized to operate in these back lanes to ensure they continue earning a livelihood.
For years, successive administrations have tried various measures to address the issue of hawkers crowding the city streets. In 2023, Sakaja banned hawkers from lanes connecting Moi Avenue as part of his effort to improve street operations.
The county’s latest move aims to balance the needs of hawkers with maintaining a well-organized and pedestrian-friendly city.
