Eastleigh sees business boom as county tackles hawker congestion, garbage collection

The top leadership of the Eastleigh Business District Association and mall owners held a meeting to discuss strategies for boosting business and maintaining cleanliness in Eastleigh.

This follows the recent action by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who fulfilled his promise to remove all hawkers from Yusuf Haji Avenue.

During the meeting, business leaders expressed support for the county government's efforts to improve Eastleigh's business environment. The removal of hawkers from Yusuf Haji Avenue, a key commercial street lined with malls, has been a longstanding demand from business owners.

The decision was made to ensure that businesses can operate without congestion and that customers have easier access to shopping centres.

Governor Sakaja has also taken steps to address the garbage problem in Eastleigh.

The county government has approved a single company, Zanox Energy, to handle waste management in the area. As part of the first phase of this initiative, 25 trucks have been deployed to clear accumulated garbage. These trucks operate at night, collecting waste from malls, businesses, and streets.

The efforts have led to noticeable improvements in the cleanliness of Eastleigh, with major roads and shopping areas seeing reduced waste buildup.

Ahmed Abdullahi, Chairman of the Eastleigh Business District Association, who spoke to the media after the meeting, emphasised that the Association has existed for over 30 years with the primary objective of connecting business people with the government to ensure that Eastleigh receives necessary public services.

"Eastleigh has now improved in cleanliness, safety, and investment due to the government working for its people," Ahmed said.

He urged all stakeholders, including business owners and community members, to participate in efforts to enhance Eastleigh's commercial environment.

The chairman also called for stronger support for the Eastleigh Business District Association, which has been playing a key role in advocating for business interests.

Last month, Ahmed announced that the Association would soon be rebranding to the Eastleigh Business Community, signalling a shift toward broader engagement with businesses and investors.

Omar Hussein, the Association's Secretary General, also while speaking at the meeting expressed appreciation to Governor Sakaja for fulfilling his commitment to remove hawkers from Yusuf Haji Avenue.

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• Eastleigh Business District Association
• Yusuf Haji Avenue
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• Eastleigh sees business boom as county tackles hawker congestion
• garbage collection

Previously, hawkers were operating on this road as early as 9 am, despite an agreement that allowed them to start work only after 5 pm. Following discussions with the governor, enforcement measures have been implemented to ensure that hawkers do not operate before the designated time.

Omar also commented on the overall improvement in Eastleigh's cleanliness. "The cleanliness in Eastleigh has improved, and hawkers have been removed from the main streets like Yusuf Haji Avenue. As mall and property owners, we thank the county government."

He urged the governor and county officials to sustain these efforts, ensuring that previous challenges, such as uncontrolled hawking and poor waste management, do not return.

Business owners are hopeful that the improved conditions will create a better trading environment, free from congestion and sanitation issues.

There were concerns that some hawkers, who were removed from Nairobi's Central Business District by Governor Sakaja, had moved to Eastleigh to set up businesses. However, with the enforcement of new rules, business owners believe the situation has now been brought under control.