Sakaja: No more street hawking within Nairobi CBD

A section of Accra Road where pedestrians and hawkers do their daily activities; Walking and hawking in the narrow pathway designated for pedestrians.[File, Standard]

The Nairobi County government has banned street hawking on main streets and roads within the Central Business District (CBD), effective immediately.  

In a notice issued by Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, hawkers are prohibited from operating on main streets and will instead be restricted to backstreets and lanes.  

“Hawking of merchandise will only be allowed on backstreets and lanes from Monday to Saturday, between 4 pm and 10 pm,” the notice stated.  

Hawkers are permitted to operate only along the backstreets connecting Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road. 

However, selling is strictly prohibited on key roads, including Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road.  

“All walkways within the CBD are strictly for pedestrians and not for trading,” the County stated. 

The ban aims to create wider walkways for pedestrians and improve mobility within the city.  

The county government has warned of strict action against those who fail to comply with the new directives.  

“The general public is advised that anyone contravening this notice will be prosecuted under the Nairobi City County bylaws.”