Nairobi County Government has announced a firm crackdown on hawkers who exploit others by charging for spaces that are meant to be free, in a bid to restore order in the city’s central business district. The directive comes from Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, who warned that the government will soon take decisive action against such ‘big fish’ hawkers. Speaking on Saturday, Mosiria said he plans to meet with County Governor Johnson Sakaja to coordinate the crackdown and ensure that all hawkers are allocated proper spaces.
The move follows complaints from hawkers about the limited availability of spaces in designated backstreets, which the county earmarked for informal traders in a January 2025 directive. Under this directive, hawkers were instructed to vacate major thoroughfares including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road. While the government intends to maintain cleaner and more organized streets, the lack of adequate trading spaces in backstreets has fueled frustration among hawkers. Mosiria confirmed that new markets are being planned to provide sufficient and fair trading spaces, adding that hawkers who exploit others by taking extra slots or employing multiple people under one permit will be targeted.
Beyond space allocation issues, Mosiria highlighted environmental concerns linked to hawking activities, particularly the use of disposable cups and single-use plastic bags by tea and coffee vendors. Last month, the County began monitoring hawkers who contribute to littering and blocked drainage systems, which exacerbate flooding during rains. The government plans to track down suppliers of such plastics and enforce penalties to minimize environmental hazards. Nairobi residents and urban planning advocates have largely welcomed the measures, citing potential improvements in city cleanliness and orderliness. County officials hope that the crackdown, alongside the establishment of new markets, will balance the needs of informal traders with the city’s broader public interest, creating a cleaner and more organized Nairobi in the months ahead.