Nairobi residents who purchase goods from street vendors operating in unauthorised areas now risk arrest and prosecution, as the county government escalates efforts to restore order in the capital.
The county’s Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria on Wednesday announced that a new phase of enforcement has begun, one that targets not only the hawkers but also their customers.
“Going forward, we will not only target hawkers operating in undesignated areas but also individuals buying from them, as they are aiding and abetting this illegality,” Mosira stated.
This initiative, according to Mosiria, seeks to bring discipline to Nairobi’s central business district by reinforcing designated trading zones and reclaiming public spaces currently congested by illegal vending activities.
He said the county had already allocated specific back lane areas for hawkers to conduct business lawfully, yet many continue to flood pedestrian walkways, pavements, and busy thoroughfares.
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“While hawkers have been allocated designated back lanes to operate from, many have continued to block pedestrian walkways, inconveniencing city residents and compromising public safety,” Mosiria said.
The move signals a tougher stance by the county, which has struggled for years to regulate informal trade in the CBD.
Officials say the unchecked sprawl of hawkers has contributed to littering, obstruction, and unsafe crowding, especially during peak hours.
Mosiria further criticised some hawkers for what he described as manipulative tactics meant to resist relocation.
“Some traders are resorting to theatrics and playing the poverty card to remain in banned areas and evade enforcement,” he claimed.
The county’s renewed operation follows another directive issued on June 19, targeting tea and coffee vendors who serve their drinks in disposable cups and plastic bags without providing rubbish bins.
Mosiria blamed the resulting litter for blocked drainage systems and seasonal flooding in parts of the city.
According to Mosiria, those who fail to comply with the waste disposal rules, he said, will be arrested and their merchandise confiscated.
The order directed all vendors to vacate major roads, including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Latema Road, and River Road, and operate solely within designated backstreet zones.
The county's approach signals a growing resolve to reclaim the city's core from unregulated activity and enforce constitutional use of shared urban spaces.
Whether the arrests will lead to lasting order or provoke further resistance remains to be seen.
