Nairobi City County Government has vowed it will prosecute hawkers who defies allocated roads where hawking of merchandise is allowed in the Central Business District (CBD).

In a notice issued on January 6, 2025, Acting County Secretary and Head Of County Public Service Godfrey Akumali urged hawkers to restrict their businesses to the backstreets.

“Nairobi City County Government hereby gives notice to all hawkers in the Central Business District that hawking of merchandise will only be allowed on backstreets and lanes; Monday to Saturday from 4pm to 10pm,” said Akumali in the notice.

He went on to clarify: “The designated backstreets are within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road.”

The county boss indicated that now hawker will be permitted to sell their wares on the main streets and roads within the Nairobi CBD during the stipulated days of the week and time.

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“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 warned.

Akumali added, “All walkways within the central business district are strictly for pedestrians and not trading.”

The Nairobi City County Government the traders that anyone found violating the provisions of the said notice will be prosecuted within the Nairobi City County Government By-Law.

On November 14, 2024, Nairobi City MCAs passed a motion to relocate traders from the CBD streets and pavements to the backstreets and designated places to ease congestion.

The motion by Umoja 1 MCA Mark Mugambi allows Governor Johnson Sakaja’s executive to create pop-up market spaces in the back lanes, register all hawkers and give them licences.

The motion also mandates the Nairobi County Government to ensure the safety and security of the all the traders in the CBD as they will be allowed to operate 24 hour a day.

The significant motion sought to enact the Nairobi City County Pop Up Markets and Street Vending Act 2019, that the MCAs believe will enhance trade while easing traffic congestion.