He announced that his administration would take action against those found culpable of hawking on the refurbished walkways and cycle lanes.
Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja has revealed the county administration’s intention to rein in city hawkers who are fond of selling goods on the newly constructed walkways.
Sakaja issued a statement on this on Wednesday, September 4, following an inspection visit to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), clarifying that walkways are meant for pedestrians, not hawkers.
He announced that his administration would take action against those found culpable of hawking on the refurbished walkways and cycle lanes.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja inspecting the ongoing construction of the footpaths on September 4, 2024. /JOHNSON SAKAJA
“I inspected ongoing works around the CBD while interacting with Kenyans who provided a lot of wonderful feedback on the walkway improvement that’s ongoing on key roads,” the governor noted.
“The new walkways are for pedestrians and not hawking. We will enforce this strictly.”
The governor was responding to concerns raised by a section of Nairobi residents regarding the limited walking space due to increased hawking activity within the city.
The construction of the walkways began in April this year after Nairobi County secured Ksh8.7 billion in funding from the US government through the Millenium Challenge Corporation to undertake key infrastructural projects.
Speaking after securing the deal, Sakaja announced that the funds would also be used to expand major roads within Nairobi.
“We are excited about our engagement with the Government of the United States of America through MCC which is partnering with us on a $ 60 million (Ksh8.7 billion) threshold program for the people of Nairobi,” Sakaja announced following a meeting with the US delegation in Nairobi mid this year.
“The program spans transport and Land Use Development Planning for the City of Nairobi, walkways and cycle paths, Bus Rapid Transit financing, and commuter and pedestrian connectivity. On its successful completion, the program will give way to a much more intensive compact program for the City.”
However, the second phase of the construction of the walkways and cycle lanes is yet to be done even as the county government continues to put up measures for the completion.
The move to take action against hawkers flouting the rules could spark a fresh battle between the county government and the hawkers themselves owing to numerous and previous instances of county askaris harassing traders in Nairobi where most cases have sparked uproar nationwide.