Kenya, July 25 -- Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has unveiled stringent measures to address illegal hawking in the Central Business District (CBD), announcing plans to arrest customers buying from hawkers in undesignated areas.
Speaking on July 24, 2025, Mosiria accused hawkers of staging public scenes to gain sympathy and evade enforcement, contributing to illegal dumping, blocked walkways, and compromised city aesthetics.
The new crackdown, backed by the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, aims to restore order by targeting both vendors and their patrons, sparking heated debate across social media platforms.
Mosiria's directive, shared via his official X account (@HonMosiria), emphasizes that hawking in undesignated zones violates county bylaws, causing chaos on streets like Moi Avenue and Tom Mboya.
"Customers who knowingly buy from illegal hawkers are abetting lawlessness," he stated, citing Singapore and Rwanda as models for prosecuting enablers of unauthorized trading.
The Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act 2021 allows for the arrest and prosecution of individuals supporting illegal activities, including purchasing from hawkers operating outside designated backlanes.
This move follows a June 2025 operation where Mosiria confronted hawkers for blocking walkways, criticizing their use of the "poverty card" to justify violations.
The crackdown targets eight CBD streets, including Haile Selassie Avenue, Ronald Ngala Street, and River Road, where hawking is prohibited to ensure pedestrian safety and cleanliness.
Mosiria highlighted that designated backlanes, operational from 4 PM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday, have been allocated for hawkers, yet many persist in congesting main walkways.
A June 18, 2025, initiative also addressed tea and coffee vendors using disposable cups without trash bins, which clog drainage systems and cause flooding. The county has installed new dustbins across the CBD to curb littering, though theft of bins remains a challenge.
Public reaction is polarized as critics warn residents against buying from illegal hawkers while others noted arrests will extend to customers to enforce compliance.
Supporters praise Mosiria's efforts to reduce CBD chaos, citing improved pedestrian movement after relocating hawkers to backlanes. Critics, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, argue the measures harm vulnerable vendors, with condemning the county for "destroying livelihoods" under the guise of order.
Mosiria countered Owino, urging sustainable solutions over political stances, and pledged to create more market spaces to accommodate hawkers.
The initiative aligns with Governor Johnson Sakaja's vision for a clean and orderly Nairobi, following directives like the January 13, 2025, order for hawkers to clear wares by 10 PM to facilitate cleaning.
Mosiria's April 2025 arrest of a food chain manager on Moi Avenue for waste mismanagement shows his broader environmental enforcement, backed by the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act 2015.
However, hawkers' complaints about insufficient backlane spaces persist, with Mosiria promising to address exploitation by those charging for free spaces. Kenya's 7.5% GDP budget deficit and urban economic pressures amplify the stakes, as informal traders form a critical economic segment.
Social media debates reflect Nairobi's struggle to balance livelihoods with urban order. Online trends shows rising searches for "Nairobi hawkers crackdown 2025" and "Geoffrey Mosiria CBD enforcement," indicating interest from Kenya's diaspora and urban residents.
Mosiria's May 2025 initiative to feed 500 street families highlights his commitment to vulnerable groups, yet critics argue the crackdown risks alienating low-income traders.
As Nairobi navigates its sanitation crisis, producing 3,500 tonnes of daily waste, the success of Mosiria's measures hinges on balancing enforcement with sustainable solutions for hawkers, shaping the CBD's future.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.