In Nairobi, from Gikomba market to Tom Mboya Street, Eastleigh to River Road, thousands of Kenyans wake up every morning to make a living in the streets as hawkers.
These men and women, many of them youths and single mothers, form a pillar of the city's informal economy.
They are the most unrecognised contributors to the daily trade, local supply chain, and the broader economy of the city, offering vital goods and services at minimal cost.
But despite their significance and resilience, they remain marginalised, unrecognised and harassed by the city askaris, exposed to extortion, and perceived as a nuisance in the streets where they sustain themselves and contribute to the city's economy.
