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Hawkers Ordered to Clear Wares by 10 PM for Nairobi Clean-Up

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Hawkers in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) have been instructed to remove their goods and belongings from streets and lanes by 10 PM to allow for nighttime cleaning.

Geoffrey Mosiria, the County Chief Officer in charge of the Environment, announced the directive on Monday. He explained that it would help ensure that city workers effectively carry out cleaning activities. He noted that many hawkers have been leaving their wares on the streets, obstructing cleaning efforts.

“It has come to the attention of the Nairobi City County Government that many hawkers leave their wares and belongings in the streets and lanes, obstructing cleaning activities. You are hereby directed to remove all your belongings by 10 PM daily to allow cleaning teams to carry out their work effectively,” Mosiria said.

While many hawkers cover their goods with polythene to avoid the hassle of transporting them to storage, Mosiria stated that this practice would no longer be tolerated. He warned that any goods left on the streets past 10 PM would be considered a nuisance and disposed of without prior notice, by the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act of 2021.

“Let us work together to maintain a clean and organized Nairobi,” Mosiria urged.

This directive follows a public notice issued on January 9, listing streets where hawking is prohibited. According to the notice, hawkers are only allowed in backstreets and lanes between 4 PM and 10 PM from Monday to Saturday. The backstreets are located within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road. The notice further clarified that hawking would not be allowed on main streets such as Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, and River Road.

Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali emphasized that all walkways within the CBD are designated for pedestrians, not for trading. He warned that anyone violating the notice would face prosecution under Nairobi’s by-laws.

The new directive has sparked protests among hawkers. On January 10, traders gathered outside City Hall, waving placards, blowing whistles, and chanting “haki yetu” (our rights) in opposition to the measure. The protest occurred just hours after Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson toured the streets to assess the situation, reiterating that there would be no reversal of the directive.

Ayuma Phomie
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