Hawkers have been banned from conducting their businesses along roads and sidewalks of Nairobi’s CBD.
The new directive by Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja takes effect from Thursday, October 26.
According to the county boss, the move is aimed at ensuring the safety of the hawkers as well as passers by.
He further said that by enforcing the directive, he would also be taking care of shop owners who pay taxes.
“From Tom Mboya coming up to Moi Avenue we will have no hawking and street business there because we have a plan on that road where we receive billions from investors. I was in Paris and we are doing BRT. We are going to expand that road to be walkable because I am not just taking care of you I am also taking care of Kenyans who are walking, those who own shops they are also taxpayers,” the city county boss said during a meeting with enforcement officers, hawkers and executive officers on Wednesday.
The move is also intended to allow motorists to move with ease and provide them with amble parking space.
“Nairobi will be a city of order and dignity. There will be no hawking on roads and that is not negotiable,” he maintained.
Sakaja urged those enforcing the rule to be confident, firm and fair such that no one is spared.
“There will be no hawking on the road that one we will not have. That is an irreducible minimum even for their own safety. From tomorrow morning even at Muthurwa and Bus station. If they are inside a small section we agree with the timings, but on the road is a reducible minimum, the roads are meant for cars.
“We must be firm and a rule is a rule. When we say there is no hawking along Moi Avenue there is none for anyone and I will say it before them…Everybody must get their piece we can’t favour one group over another. So when I insist that you operate up to some certain spot then stop there and nobody will bother you,” Sakaja added.
