NAIROBI CRACKS DOWN ON HAWKERS AND BUYERS IN UNDESIGNATED AREAS

The Nairobi County government has issued a warning to the public against buying goods from street vendors operating in unauthorized areas, stating that both vendors and buyers found violating the rules will be arrested and prosecuted. Nairobi’s Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria highlighted that many hawkers continue to obstruct pedestrian walkways despite being assigned designated backstreets for their businesses.

Mosiria emphasized that this not only inconveniences residents but also causes congestion in the city. “We are intensifying enforcement to ensure compliance. Moving forward, action will be taken not only against hawkers in undesignated areas but also against those purchasing from them, as they are enabling illegal activity,” Mosiria stated in a post on X. The directive is backed by the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act and other local statutes, which provide for the arrest and prosecution of individuals who abet illegal activities in public spaces. Mosiria further observed that some hawkers have developed a habit of creating public drama during enforcement exercise to gain sympathy, a tactic he described as misleading and disruptive.

In January 2025, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja ordered hawkers to operate only in specified backstreets between Tom Mboya Street and Kirinyaga Road to restore order in the city. A court notice issued on January 6, 2025, clarified that hawking is not permitted on main roads and streets including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road. Vendors were instructed to conduct business from 4PM to 10 PM, Monday through Saturday. This directive followed a resolution by Nairobi County Assembly members, urging the Sakaja led administration to allocate proper trade spaces for street vendors.