Hawkers in Nairobi have voiced their discontent over Governor Johnson Sakaja’s recent directive barring them from conducting business on the main streets of the Central Business District (CBD).
The hawkers’ association has threatened to march to City Hall in protest, demanding unrestricted access to conduct their trade.
“We have families to support, and you can’t expect us to leave while we have responsibilities,” said Dorcas Wairimu, a hawker operating within the CBD.
In contrast, members of the formal business community have expressed support for the governor’s decision, citing long-standing disruptions caused by unregulated hawking. They clarified that their opposition is not directed at hawkers but rather toward maintaining order and adherence to designated trading zones, highlighting that they pay taxes to operate legally.
To address these concerns, the county government has allocated specific backstreets and lanes within the CBD for hawkers. Under new regulations effective January 6, 2025, hawking will only be permitted between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm on weekdays.
The designated zones include areas spanning from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
“Hawkers overcrowd the streets, discouraging our customers from accessing the CBD,” noted Stephen Wambiya, Chairperson of the Luthuli Business Community, supporting the enforcement of the new guidelines.
