The Nairobi City County Government has moved to sort out the congestion that has ravaged the Central Business District (CBD), effectively disallowing hawkers from operating within the CBD, effective immediately.
Going forward, City Hall has announced, hawkers will not be allowed to operate in the CBD. In a notice dated January 6, City Hall said hawkers will only be allowed to operate in designated backstreets from 4pm.
“No hawking will be allowed on the main streets and roads i.e. Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba road, Latema road, Ronald Ngala street, Mfangano street, Hakati road and River road.
“All walkways within the central business district are strictly for pedestrians and not trading,” the notice by Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali reads in part.
In the notice, the Governor Johnson Sakaja-led administration said hawking on the designated backstreets will only be allowed from Monday to Saturday from 4pm to 10 pm.
City Hall said anyone found contravening the above directive will face the law. “The designated backstreets are within the zone from Tom Mboya street to Kirinyaga road.
“The general public is asked to take note that anyone contravening this notice will be prosecuted within the Nairobi City County Government by-law.”
The directive comes into force after months of a pilot programme to ensure it will work. It is in a bid to decongest the city.
Last year, Sakaja explained that the program was aimed at ensuring organized trade and upholding the rights of other stakeholders such as motorists, pedestrians and formal business owners.
“The County Government of Nairobi, through the County Sector for Business and Hustler Opportunities, is keen to provide livelihood opportunities for thousands of informal traders who depend on street vending for their daily income,” he said.
As early as 6 am, hawkers have been camping brazenly along various streets, lanes and avenues within the CBD blocking roads and pavements, crowding out pedestrians, contributing to garbage menace and blocking business entrances denying business to legitimate traders.
