A cleaner sweeps a street within Nairobi CBD/FileHawkers operating in lanes and streets within permitted areas in Nairobi's Central Business District have been directed to remove their wares and other belongings after 10 pm.
County Chief Officer in charge of Environment Geoffrey Mosiria on Monday said this will facilitate the cleaning of the lanes and streets at night by county city cleaners.
"It has come to the attention of 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.
Many hawkers prefer to cover their wares with polythene papers to save them the hustle and extra cost of moving them to and from storage stores.
Mosiria, however, said this behaviour will henceforth bear consequences for those who fail to adhere to the new directive.
He said any belongings found on lanes and streets past 10 pm will be disposed of "without prior notice or consent" as such items will henceforth be treated as a nuisance in line with the provisions of the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, 2021.
"Let us work together to maintain a clean and organized Nairobi," Mosiria urged.
The directive follows another public notice issued on January 9 listing streets where hawkers are not allowed to venture.
The order dated January 6 and signed by acting county secretary Godfrey Akumali said hawkers would only be allowed on backstreets and lanes from Monday to Saturday from 4 pm to 10 pm.
Akumali said the designated backstreets are within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.
"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,” he said.
He said all walkways within the CBD are strictly designated for pedestrians and not trading.
“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 acting county secretary warned.
The directive sparked a protest from the hawkers who on Friday, January 10, outside City Hall.
The placard-waving street traders blew whistles, ululated and punched fists in the air chanting ‘haki yetu’ as they marched round City Hall precincts.
The protest came hours after Nairobi Governor took a tour of the streets to evaluate things on the ground following the directive and affirmed that there would be no going back on the directive.
“Walkable CBD. The people want order na iwe hivyo. We shall sustain,” he affirmed.
