Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja conducted an inspection of walkways and main corridors in the Central Business District (CBD) just a day after the Nairobi County Government directed hawkers to relocate to designated backstreets.

The directive, issued on January 6, aims to restore order in the city. Under the new regulations, hawking is permitted only in specific backstreets — stretching from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road — between 4 PM and 10 PM from Monday to Saturday.

As of now, major corridors and walkways along Moi Avenue and Upper CBD are free of hawkers, reflecting the immediate impact of the county’s enforcement efforts.

During his inspection, Governor Sakaja emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating a cleaner and more organized city. “We are a government for the people, and we work for the common mwananchi. However, to achieve this, we need a clean, organized, and orderly city. Let us agree on this, and we shall ensure adherence to these measures,” he said.

The county government hopes the move will strike a balance between supporting informal traders and maintaining the city’s aesthetics and functionality.

“Hawking will not be permitted on main streets and roads such as Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road,” he reiterated.

Additionally, the county government plans to designate walkways within the CBD exclusively for pedestrian use, reducing congestion and improving public space.

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