The County Government of Nairobi has issued a notice ordering hawkers to vacate major streets in the Central Business District (CBD).
Effective immediately, hawking is prohibited along key thoroughfares, including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, and Kenneth Matiba 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,” said Nairobi County Secretary Godfrey Akumali in a notice issued on the 6th January 2025.
“All walkways within the central business district are strictly for pedestrians and not trading.”
Hawkers are directed to relocate to designated backstreets and lanes between Tom Mboya Street and Kirinyaga Road, with operations permitted between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
This move, while aimed at restoring order in the CBD, faces challenges due to the political and economic implications of relocating hawkers.