Nairobi County to penalise both illegal hawkers and buyers.
Nairobi residents have been warned against purchasing goods from hawkers operating in undesignated areas, in a new crackdown targeting both sellers and buyers.
According to Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, hawkers continue to flout city bylaws by setting up on pedestrian walkways despite being allocated backlanes for their businesses.
“We are stepping up enforcement efforts to ensure compliance. Going forward, enforcement will not only target hawkers operating in undesignated areas but also individuals buying from them, as they are aiding and abetting this illegality,”
— Geoffrey Mosiria via X (formerly Twitter)
The intensified operation builds on a directive by Governor Johnson Sakaja issued in January 2025, which instructed hawkers to operate in designated lanes between Tom Mboya Street and Kirinyaga Road.
Sakaja said the move was meant to balance inclusivity for informal traders with the city’s need to ensure order, safety, and cleanliness in the Central Business District.
Key pedestrian areas like Moi Avenue, Luthuli Avenue, and River Road have become increasingly inaccessible due to uncontrolled hawking. County authorities now say that illegal vending is not just a nuisance but a threat to mobility and public safety, especially for people living with disabilities.
They cite Nairobi’s ongoing struggle with congestion and the need to reclaim walking spaces as critical reasons behind the renewed enforcement.
The county’s decision to also go after buyers has stirred public reaction. While some city dwellers back the move, citing chaos in the CBD, others say it criminalises poverty and informal trade.
Nonetheless, the county maintains it is acting within the law. The Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act allows fines and arrests for violating hawking restrictions.
What You Should Know
Vendors must operate only in the designated backstreets between Tom Mboya and Kirinyaga Road. Buyers found transacting outside those areas risk penalties. Enforcement is already active, and both parties will be held accountable.
