Following a study visit to Rajkot, India, Nairobi County officials announced plans to ban street hawkers from the Central Business District and expand CCTV coverage. The new measures aim to improve public order, cleanliness, and traffic flow, with designated vending zones for informal traders.
Nairobi, Kenya – Nairobi County officials announced on May 29 a new initiative to ban street hawkers from the Central Business District (CBD) and significantly expand its CCTV surveillance network. This move is reportedly inspired by a recent study trip undertaken by county officials to Rajkot, India, to observe its urban management strategies.
Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria stated that the county government will reinforce existing regulations to ensure that all informal vendors operate strictly within designated market areas located outside Nairobi’s main commercial corridors. Mosiria explained that the city of Rajkot successfully achieved cleaner streets and improved traffic flow by rigorously enforcing no-hawking rules within its city center. “In India, no hawkers are allowed in the CBD,” he observed. “Officials there apprehend violators on the spot.” Nairobi now plans to introduce a comprehensive permit system and impose fines for hawkers found operating outside these designated vending zones.
In addition to vendor regulation, Nairobi County also intends to adopt Indian-style approaches to waste management and urban greening. These plans include mandating waste sorting at the source for all residents and businesses, and launching an extensive tree-planting campaign along the Nairobi River. These greening efforts aim to reduce flooding, mitigate urban heat island effects, and improve the city's overall aesthetic. Mosiria added that these comprehensive measures, learned from the Rajkot model, are designed to enhance urban sanitation, public order, and climate resilience in the Kenyan capital.
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