Nairobi’s Pavement Book Sellers Face Displacement in City Clean-Up Drive

A city-wide campaign to modernise Nairobi is putting pressure on one of its most beloved informal traditions: the pavement book vendors of Moi Avenue. 

For decades, these vendors have played a key role in promoting literacy, offering affordable books to thousands of residents and adding character to the city’s streets. But under the county government's ongoing “Decongestion Programme,” they now face possible extinction. Launched in 2024, the initiative is intended to clear pedestrian walkways, reduce congestion, and present a more organised image of the city to investors and tourists. 

While the goals of improving mobility and enhancing Nairobi’s appearance are clear, the impact on informal book vendors has been deeply disruptive. Banned from displaying books along major streets, many vendors have been forced to relocate to back alleys, areas they say are unsafe, uninviting, and bad for business.

John Njoroge, a bookseller for over 20 years, says the move threatens more than just his income. 

“We are not just selling books, we are cultivating a culture,” he explains. 

He believes the visibility and accessibility of pavement book stalls create spontaneous moments of literary discovery that will be lost in these hidden, low-traffic areas. In response, Nairobi County officials insist the policy is not meant to target book vendors unfairly. Trade Chief Officer Jane Wangui told the County Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that the city plans to invest Sh100 million in improving back street infrastructure. 

The upgrades, she said, would include better lighting, paved walkways, and permanent stalls for displaced vendors. Yet on the ground, the promised changes have been slow to appear. Many alleys remain in poor condition, lacking basic facilities. Vendors say the designated areas are unsuitable for attracting customers, and do not offer the dignity or safety needed for sustainable business. "It’s an affront to human dignity," says Njoroge, frustrated by the absence of meaningful support.

Some vendors have also raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement. Anthony Aloo, a long-time bookseller, alleges that while book vendors are being removed aggressively, other informal traders continue operating in central areas with little interference. These claims have deepened fears that book sellers are being unfairly singled out.