On Friday, hawkers in Nairobi took to the streets in protest of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s recent directive to remove them from the Central Business District (CBD). The placard-waving street traders marched outside City Hall, chanting “haki yetu” (our rights), blowing whistles, and raising their fists in the air as they voiced their dissatisfaction with the order issued on January 9.
The order, signed by acting county secretary Godfrey Akumali, restricts hawking to specific backstreets and lanes from 4pm to 10pm, Monday to Saturday. These designated areas are limited to a zone stretching from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road. In contrast, hawking will be prohibited on the main streets of Nairobi CBD, including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, and several others.
The county government has emphasized that walkways within the CBD are designated strictly for pedestrians and not for trading, warning that violators would face prosecution under the Nairobi City County by-law.
Hawkers argue that the directive, which limits their trading spaces, will negatively impact their livelihoods. This follows years of government failure to effectively manage the proliferation of hawkers in Nairobi, which often leads to violent clashes between traders and enforcement officers.
Governor Sakaja, who took office in 2022, had pledged to reform the management of Nairobi under his “Lazima Iwork” (Let’s Make Nairobi Work) slogan. This includes relocating traders to the newly constructed Kangundo Road Market on the city’s outskirts. However, some traders, particularly those at the Wakulima (Marikiti) Market, have resisted the relocation, a move that attracted political controversy. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua supported the traders’ stance, fueling political tensions that led to his eventual impeachment in October.
Despite the protests, Sakaja remains firm on his objective to reduce congestion and restore order in Nairobi. During the march, he reaffirmed his commitment to making the CBD more walkable, stating, “The people want order, and it will be sustained.”
