Nairobi County has issued fresh guidelines targeting both matatu owners and hawkers, with a primary focus on improving the cleanliness of the city center and ensuring proper waste management. The directives come in response to increasing concerns over environmental degradation caused by unmaintained vehicles and obstructed cleaning activities in key areas.
Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi’s Environment County Chief Officer, highlighted in a statement that many matatu stages are blocked by vehicles at night, preventing cleaning crews from carrying out their tasks efficiently. He further noted that some of these vehicles are abandoned, poorly maintained, and fail to manage their waste, exacerbating the environmental challenges the city faces. As part of the new measures, Mosiria instructed that all vehicles must vacate the designated matatu stages during the night’s cleaning hours and that matatu owners should ensure their vehicles are clean and properly managed, including subscribing to licensed waste disposal services.
Additionally, Mosiria addressed noise pollution issues, urging drivers to cease unnecessary hooting and loud music that contribute to the nuisance in the city center. He also warned matatu owners that those failing to comply with the guidelines would face legal enforcement actions.
In a related move, the county government has intensified its stance on hawkers who leave their wares unattended in the streets. Under the new directives, hawkers are required to remove their goods by 10:00 PM daily to allow cleaning teams to do their work. Any items left behind after this deadline will be deemed as a nuisance and disposed of without notice.
This latest directive follows a previous order issued on January 6, 2025, which restricted hawking to specific times and areas within the city center. Hawkers, however, have expressed dissatisfaction with these regulations and are threatening to protest the restrictions. Despite their resistance, the county government is determined to maintain order and cleanliness in the central business district.
As Nairobi continues to tackle environmental and cleanliness challenges, these new measures reflect the county’s commitment to improving the city’s appearance and the quality of life for its residents.
