How Sakaja can turn hawkers 'menace' into a success story

Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) has long been the epicentre of commerce, governance, and culture. But over the years, the hawker crisis has turned it into a battleground between small-scale traders and city authorities.

Governor Johnson Sakaja’s recent directive to bar hawkers from the CBD’s main streets is not the first of its kind. Similar moves have been made in the past, only for the hawkers to return days later, undeterred by crackdowns.

The directive has once again reignited a debate that has plagued the city for decades. While the intention to restore order and reclaim public spaces is commendable, the directive alone is not enough and has to be backed up by some practical steps in order to succeed.

The hawkers' crisis in Nairobi is not merely a question of policy enforcement; it is a reflection of deeper systemic issues that demand innovative and inclusive solutions. Instead of treating hawkers as a nuisance to be eradicated, the city should view them as an integral part of its economy and urban culture deserving of structured engagement and sustainable solutions.

Hawkers are often viewed as disruptors of urban order, yet they are a critical component of Nairobi’s informal economy. They provide affordable goods to city dwellers, often serving as a viable option for low-income earners. For the hawkers themselves, trading is not merely a livelihood but often a matter of survival in a country grappling with high unemployment rates. For many, hawking is the only means to make ends meet.

Hawkers’ resilience and entrepreneurial spirit reflect an untapped potential. However, their contributions are overshadowed by the chaos they create when left to operate without proper regulation.

Efforts to resolve the crisis have largely failed because they don’t address its root causes. Banning hawkers from streets without providing viable alternatives is futile. Hawkers are reluctant to move to designated spaces that are either too far from their customer base or lack adequate foot traffic to sustain their businesses.

Furthermore, enforcement of such directives has often been marred by corruption, with reports of rogue officers accepting bribes to allow hawkers back onto the streets.

Urban planning in Nairobi has also lagged behind the city’s rapid population growth. The CBD’s infrastructure was not designed to accommodate the volume of informal trade it now hosts. This disconnect has resulted in a city that struggles to balance its ambitions of becoming a world-class metropolis with the realities of its burgeoning informal economy.

Nairobi can draw valuable lessons from other cities that have faced similar struggles and emerged with innovative solutions.

Singapore, for instance, transformed its hawkers' trade by creating designated hawker centres – clean, affordable spaces that allow traders to operate in an organised and regulated environment. These centres not only improved public order but also preserved the vibrancy of street commerce.

In Bangkok, authorities designated specific zones and times for street vending, allowing hawkers to co-exist with other urban activities. Similarly, Kigali introduced micro-markets for vendors, which not only reduced street congestion but also improved their livelihoods and increased government revenue.

Nairobi can follow these examples by re-imagining how hawkers fit into its urban landscape. The city could establish well-organised hawker zones in high-traffic areas, complete with basic amenities like sanitation, security, and proper waste management. These zones could be designed with input from hawkers themselves to ensure they meet their needs.

Micro-loans and financial support would empower hawkers to invest in uniform kiosks or stalls that align with the city’s aesthetic and functional standards. Such an initiative would transform informal traders into formal contributors to the economy while maintaining the city’s visual appeal.

Also, the introduction of digital systems for hawker registration and fee collection could enhance transparency and reduce the corruption that has plagued enforcement efforts.

Public awareness campaigns would also be crucial in shifting perceptions about hawkers. Many Nairobi residents see them as obstacles to order and progress, but a well-regulated hawking trade can coexist with the city’s ambitions of modernisation. Educating the public on the importance of inclusive urban policies could foster greater acceptance of hawker zones.

Sakaja has a unique opportunity to break the cycle of chaos and pioneer a model that not only restores order but also empowers hawkers as contributors to the city’s growth.

Heavy-handed measures alone cannot address a problem rooted in economic and structural inequities. However, by embracing innovative solutions and drawing on global best practices, Nairobi can transform its streets into spaces of coexistence and collaboration.

Rather than waging an endless battle against hawkers, Nairobi should strive to integrate them into the city’s development in a way that benefits all. Only then can Nairobi truly become a city that works for everyone.