•The Governor urged the traders to strictly operate within the designated pavements and streets only.
•A daily cess fee will be applied to hawkers who intend to conduct vending business in the rehabilitated backlanes in the CBD.
Image: HANDOUT
Hawkers in Nairobi's Central Business District will only be allowed to conduct business from 4 pm.
This is among orders issued by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja effective from Friday.
The orders are contained in a 90-day pilot program aimed at regulating hawking in the CBD.
"Pursuant to the Fourth Schedule of the Kenyan Constitution, the County Government is mandated to establish trade regulation which includes fair trading practices and management of traders and Public spaces," reads the program.
The Governor has also allowed pop-up markets during the weekend in specific areas, but only upon payment.
"Pop-up markets are allowed upon payment of applicable rates, rent and fees only on weekends," reads the program.
However, the pop-up markets can only be set up along Kenyatta Avenue (Service lanes between Koinange and Kimathi Streets) and Sunken Car Park.
A daily cess fee will be applied to hawkers who intend to conduct vending business in the rehabilitated backlanes in the CBD.
"Street vending business operations in the rehabilitated backlanes shall be done 24 hours every day by traders designated to those lanes through applicable procedures," Sakaja stated.
The various lanes, including Turkana, have already been painted, ready for hawkers to be allocated spaces.
Other areas earmarked for paint works include Sotik, Posta and Kirinyaga.
In the program, the Governor has made it clear that there is no trading allowed on roads (carriageway) throughout the city.
"Street vending is only allowed beyond Tom Mboya Street downwards. Street vending from upper Tom Mboya upwards is strictly prohibited," Sakaja added.
He explained that the program is aimed at ensuring organized trade and uphold the rights of other stakeholders such as motorists, pedestrians and formal business owners.
"The County Government of Nairobi, through the County Sector for Business and Hustler Opportunities, is keen to provide livelihood opportunities for thousands of informal traders who depend on street vending for their daily income," Sakaja said.
Going further, the county boss outlined conditions and regulations that all trders in the CBD are expected to adhere to.
All hawkers are expected to ensure that their area of operation is clean and litter free before and after business operations
Sakaja also made it clear that the size of each slot is 3 by 3 feet within clear and adequate space left along the street and in between pallets for pedestrian traffic.
"The traders shall operate on standardized pallets as per specifications provided by the line department," he noted.
The Governor urged the traders to strictly operate within the designated pavements and streets only.
Any trader who does not adhere to this protocol shall be subject to enforcement action by county government in line with applicable laws and regulations
"Law and order must be fully adhered to during the proposed business hours," Sakaja added.
As early as 7 am, hawkers have been camping brazenly along various streets, lanes and avenues within the CBD blocking roads and pavements, crowding out pedestrians, contributing to garbage menace and blocking business entrances denying business to legitimate traders.
Along Latema and River roads, the hawkers are stationed from mid-morning to evening, always alert to impending sweeps by enforcement officers.
It's always a cat-and-mouse game along Ronald Ngala and Mfangano streets between the hawkers and enforcement officers.
Tom Mboya Street has also been converted into a hawking zone as some hawkers allegedly steal, pickpocket and commit other crimes.
Still, a lot of people buy from hawkers. Over the years, these 'CBD owners' have proved they cannot be evicted or persuaded to move, despite vigorous attempts by successive county governments. Heavy-handed roundups don't work. They just surge back.
However, Sakaja plans to make the impossible, possible by relocating the hawkers from uptown,
This will not only reduce congestion from the pavements and streets but also give them a specific place to operate from.
In his Sh42.3 billion budget which was passed by Nairobi MCAs in June Sh100 million was allocated for the relocation of informal traders (hawkers) from the main streets.
In his manifesto, Sakaja said his administration would not chase hawkers from their bases of operations but instead allocate them places to operate from.