In the busy streets of Nairobi, where every inch of space is contested and survival often means hustling in the open, a new storm is brewing.
The steadfast street vendors, the heartbeat of Nairobi's informal economy, now find themselves squarely in the crosshairs of the county government.
With a push to reclaim the streets and restore order, Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration began a new crackdown, forcefully removing hawkers from their spots on the busy streets and sending them to the backstreets and lanes.
On January 6, 2024, acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali issued a notice directing that hawking would only be done in the backstreets within specific times and areas.
