Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Wednesday issued a stern warning to hawkers who have turned the city’s newly constructed walkways into makeshift market stalls.
The governor made his position clear during an inspection of the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), stating that the footpaths, recently refurbished by the county government, are meant exclusively for pedestrians, not hawkers.
Addressing the issue in response to growing concerns from Nairobi residents, Sakaja emphasized that his administration would take strict measures against anyone found hawking on the new walkways and cycle lanes.
“The new walkways are for pedestrians and not hawking. We will enforce this strictly,” the governor warned. His remarks followed complaints about limited walking space due to increased hawking activity, which many fear could undermine the city’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure.
Sakaja’s inspection tour of the CBD was part of his broader agenda to ensure that the city’s infrastructure projects meet the needs of Nairobians. He interacted with residents, gathering feedback on the ongoing improvements to the walkways on key roads.
While he acknowledged the positive feedback, the governor was resolute in his stance that hawking on the footpaths would not be tolerated.
The crackdown comes in the wake of the Nairobi Metropolitan Service’s (NMS) initiative, launched in April, to construct new pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes across the city.
The project, which aims to decongest Nairobi by encouraging non-motorized transport, was funded by a Ksh8.7 billion grant from the United States government.
The funding was secured through a partnership with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which is working closely with the Nairobi County Government.
“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,” Governor Sakaja announced after a meeting with a U.S. delegation earlier this year.
The funds are earmarked not only for the construction of walkways and cycle paths but also for the expansion of major roads within the city, development planning, and the enhancement of public transport systems, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and commuter connectivity.
However, the second phase of the construction of the walkways and cycle lanes is still pending, even as the county government continues to put measures in place to ensure the project’s completion.
The delay has only heightened the urgency for the county government to address issues such as hawking on the new walkways, which threatens to derail the progress made so far.
Governor Sakaja’s strong stance on the misuse of these public spaces underscores his commitment to maintaining order and ensuring that Nairobi’s infrastructure projects serve their intended purpose.
As the city continues to expand and modernize, the governor’s administration faces the challenge of balancing the needs of the city’s residents with the pressures of urbanization, including the growing number of informal vendors who rely on the city streets for their livelihood.
With the governor’s latest directive, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve, particularly in light of the pending completion of the walkway and cycle lane project.
For now, however, Governor Sakaja has made it clear that the city’s new footpaths are off-limits to hawkers, marking a decisive move in his administration’s efforts to reclaim public spaces for their intended use.