Nairobi, once popularly known to as ‘The City in the Sun’, has earned a new moniker, ‘Hawkers’ Paradise’, with the invasion of unauthorised traders, slowly but surely overrunning the central business district (CBD).
Alleys, backstreets, walkways, streets, avenues, roads and even pavements — every available space has been overrun. Even fronts of other business premises have now become a free-for-all paradise for the hawkers who spread their wares with abandon.
INVADING THE CBD
The stretch of River Road, Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kirinyaga road, Globe roundabout, River road, Racecourse road, Ronald Ngala and every available lane all become an untidy mess as early as noon with the vendors invading the CBD in droves.
They deal in all manner of wares, including, clothes, electrical appliances, spare parts, foodstuff, cosmetics, clothes, shoes, mobile phone accessories and toys, in the full glare often helpless city askaris.
In 1914, there were about 2,000 hawkers in Nairobi. Compare this with 1954 when the only street trading was permitted in the commercial and residential areas of Nairobi was selling of newspapers, and even this was restricted.
