Influx of Hawkers Creates Chaos in Bustling Eastleigh

Eastleigh has recently witnessed an influx of hawkers on its bustling streets. Attracted by the high volume of shoppers preparing for Christmas, these hawkers, originally from areas like Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) and Ngara, are now converging on Eastleigh, seeking to benefit from its significant foot traffic. From as early as 10 in the morning, they line Yusuf Haji Road, awaiting the thousands of people who visit daily.

Among the new arrivals is Moses Mwangi, a hawker trading in belts and rubber shoes, who previously operated on Tom Mboya Street in the CBD. In a conversation with Eastleigh Voice, Moses shared his reasons for moving to Eastleigh, pointing to the influx of customers as a key factor. "Eastleigh is where customers are now in plenty. I came to try my luck," he said, describing his strategy of morning sales in Eastleigh and evening shifts back in the CBD.

However, this surge in hawkers, especially during morning hours, has led to space constraints and clashes among vendors. In the evenings, the situation worsens as new hawkers, refusing to vacate, clash with established ones over display spaces. Consequently, these newcomers are forced to spill over onto Yusuf Haji Avenue during these confrontations, further increasing the chaos and making the road impassable for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Allegations have emerged concerning the involvement of cartels, allegedly sanctioned by City Hall, in facilitating these hawkers' activities. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source disclosed to Eastleigh Voice that these hawkers are paying a monthly fee of 15,000 Kenyan shillings to these cartels, estimated to involve around 800 hawkers.

Mohamed Adan, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastleigh Business District Association (EBDA), echoed these allegations, accusing City Hall-affiliated cartels of protecting the invading hawkers. "Shop owners can no longer tolerate this anymore," he asserted, hinting at escalating tensions due to the uncontrolled influx.

Eastleigh North Member of County Assembly Mohamed Kadar has also raised concerns, linking the chaos to "cartels" within City Hall. He emphasised the need for intervention, stressing that no hawker from outside Eastleigh should encroach upon the area. "There were cartels I knew of and I have dealt with them. I shall finish these problems," said Kadar.

This situation in Eastleigh mirrors recent actions by Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja, who cleared hawkers from the CBD to restore order. Yet, the situation in Eastleigh continues to deteriorate, prompting calls from local leaders for immediate action against these cartels and the restoration of peace in the streets.

As the festive shopping season peaks and tensions rise, Eastleigh stands at a crossroads, torn between commercial opportunities and the urgent need to maintain order and peace within its streets.