Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko restricts hawkers to selling in CBD from 2pm. [PHOTO/CharlesRonald]
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Tuesday said that hawkers will be allowed to operate within the Nairobi city centre only from 2pm.
Effective immediately from Tuesday, October 10, hawkers will be free to sell their goods in the CBD but they will not be allowed to sell past Tom Mboya street.
According to the new guidelines by governor Sonko the hawkers will operate only on one side of the road and must leave enough space for pedestrians.
Mr Sonko said the hawkers will not be harassed by city askaris as measures have been put in place to regulate the growing number of hawkers in Nairobi after a series of consultative meetings between the county government and hawkers’ representatives.
“To ensure a harmonious relationship between the city county and the hawkers, there will be no hawking in front of shops before 2pm, no hawking on both sides of the road. The paths are available for pedestrians and no hawking beyond Tom Mboya Street,” said Mr Sonko.
The county, through two committees will implement the reforms in three phases following complains by shop owners that hawkers selling in front of their stores are blocking the entrances from them to receive customers to their own businesses.
The first phase would be to create a smooth working relationship between hawkers and council askaris who will implement the new rules.
The second phase will be the identification, digital registration and licensing of hawkers before they are allocated space to conduct their business.
“To reduce conflicts, the city askaris should provide proof. They should take videos and photos,” he said.