Matatu operators, hawkers ordered to vacate Nairobi CBD stages and streets at night for cleaning

City Hall has directed matatu owners to vacate stages during designated cleaning hours at night to allow county staff to conduct thorough cleaning.

In a notice issued by Geoffrey Mosiria, the County Chief Officer for Environment on Monday, the county highlighted the need for collaboration in maintaining a clean and orderly city.

Nairobi's hawkers have also been ordered to remove their wares from the streets and lanes by 10 pm daily to make way for cleaning operations by city workers.

Mosiria explained that this move aims to support the city's cleaning teams, who have been struggling to carry out their duties due to hawkers leaving their goods behind after trading hours.

"It has come to the attention of Nairobi City County Government that many hawkers leave their wares and belongings in the streets and lanes, obstructing cleaning activities. You are hereby directed to remove all your belongings by 10 pm daily to allow cleaning teams to carry out their work effectively," Mosiria said.

The directive is part of a broader campaign to enhance Nairobi's environmental health and address issues such as waste mismanagement and public nuisances.

"Non-compliance will attract enforcement actions as provided by the law," Mosiria warned, urging matatu owners to take their legal obligations seriously.

Nairobi County, led by Geoffrey Mosiria, Chief Officer for Environment, remove business signages hanging along street corridors in the CBD pic.twitter.com/EQ8mHyk5lo

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) January 14, 2025

The notice, which aligns with the Nairobi City County Solid Waste Management Act of 2015 and the Public Nuisance Act of 2021, also requires matatu operators to maintain the cleanliness of their vehicles and subscribe to licensed waste service providers.

This is aimed at ensuring proper waste collection and disposal, which the county has identified as a significant issue in the transport sector.

Additionally, the county has called on matatu operators to cease unnecessary hooting and loud music, which are frequent complaints from city residents.

Owners of abandoned vehicles have also been instructed to remove them immediately.

"Let us collaborate to enhance Nairobi's image and maintain a sustainable urban environment," Mosiria added.

Matatu operators have been reminded that compliance with these directives is essential to creating a clean and livable city for all residents.

The county government has assured strict enforcement measures against violators as it works toward maintaining Nairobi as a healthy urban space.

The new rule follows a pattern many hawkers have adopted, where they cover their goods with polythene bags to avoid the hassle and cost of transporting them to storage.

However, Mosiria stressed that this practice will no longer be tolerated, warning that failing to remove wares by the deadline would lead to swift action.

"Any belongings found on lanes and streets past 10 pm will be disposed of without prior notice or consent. Such items will henceforth be treated as a nuisance in line with the provisions of the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act, 2021," he said.

The directive is the latest move in a series of efforts to regulate hawking in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

On January 9, the county government issued a public notice outlining areas where hawking is prohibited.

The notice, signed by Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, restricted hawking to backstreets and lanes from 4 pm to 10 pm, excluding the main streets like Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, and River Road.

"No hawking will be allowed on the main streets and roads," Akumali's notice stated.

It also reminded the public that all walkways in the CBD are reserved for pedestrians, not for vending. Anyone violating these regulations, the notice added, would face legal action under Nairobi's public nuisance laws.

The county's decision has sparked protests from hawkers, who staged a demonstration outside City Hall on Friday, January 10.

They were voicing their frustration over the crackdown and what they saw as unfair restrictions on their livelihoods.

The protests came just hours after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who had conducted an on-ground evaluation of the situation, affirmed that the government would not back down from the directive.

The protests, however, have not deterred city officials from pushing forward with their enforcement of the new regulations.