Nairobi Bans CBD Hawking, Launches Major Clean-Up with New Garbage Trucks

The Nairobi County government has enacted a firm ban on hawking within the Central Business District (CBD) to mitigate congestion and enhance pedestrian safety.

Governor Johnson Sakaja has formalized this directive, highlighting that hawking is now prohibited on major thoroughfares, including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, and Ronald Ngala Street. While this new regulation imposes strict limitations on hawking activities in the CBD, it offers some flexibility by allowing vendors to operate in specific backstreets and lanes from Monday to Thursday.

These designated trading areas, which extend from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road, aim to facilitate commerce while minimizing disruption to pedestrian movement on the primary streets. Governor Sakaja's decision reflects an ongoing effort by the Nairobi County government to tackle chronic congestion in the bustling CBD. Efforts to relocate hawkers to less congested locales, such as the Kangundo Road market, have historically encountered public backlash.

This regulatory initiative is largely influenced by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service’s (NMS) project initiated in April 2024, which involved the construction of new pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes funded by an 8.7 billion Ksh grant from the United States government. While intended to enhance urban mobility and create a pedestrian-friendly environment, the presence of hawkers on these improved pathways has generated tension between the county government and traders.

The Nairobi County government has communicated that non-compliance with this directive will result in prosecution under county law. Governor Sakaja Johnson has also launched 24 new refuse compactor trucks aiming to improve waste management throughout Nairobi County. The deployment of these trucks will commence immediately, focusing on enhancing garbage collection in key areas, including the Central Business District (CBD), major corridors, and prominent markets.

During the launch on Thursday, Governor Sakaja emphasized the critical importance of these vehicles in achieving efficient waste collection. He called upon the waste management team to optimize the use of these new resources to meet the expectations of Nairobi’s residents for a cleaner environment. Accompanied by Green Nairobi Chief Executive Committee member Maureen Njeri and Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria, the Governor reiterated his commitment to establishing Nairobi as one of Africa’s cleanest cities.

He referenced the recent participation of over 3,500 members of the Green Army in various cleaning activities throughout the county, highlighting the community's role in maintaining cleanliness. In addition to the truck launch, Governor Sakaja has also announced plans to create the Green Nairobi Company Limited—a parastatal aimed at overseeing the city’s cleanliness efforts. This new entity, modelled after Nairobi Water, will operate independently to ensure sustained funding and efficient operations in waste management.

“This entity will bring efficiency and accountability to waste management. Garbage collectors will remain part of the system but will adhere to new procedures designed to enhance effectiveness,” he explained.