Hawking is a practice in Nairobi CBD streets , it’s as old as the city itself . There is a saying that goes”where there is traffic, there is business” and it can be seen on the busy streets of Nairobi.Hawkers.

Its hard to imagine how these hawkers do business. Everyday there are some who are seen carrying their goods on their heads while others on their hands which must be difficult as they try to sell their goods to drivers and pedestrians. They often use alluring words to attract their customers.While passing on the streets, They are calling out customers using tempting words like “mia mia”, “kujaribu ni bure kuona ni bure”. This are the kind of words that you will hear while on the stress and corners of Nairobi

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As the hawkers are busy selling their products, they always have an issue with the Nairobi city county Askaris {kanjo}. As soon as they spot the famous green coloured plate number pickup truck. The game of hide and seek starts, settling the life long conflict of who is clever than the other. While these games continue the once congested area, full of hawkers, is seen scarcely populated as passengers and pedestrians go about their normal routine.

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The Problem

There are many reasons as to why the hawkers run from the Kanjo. The major reasons for these hide and seek to avoid the following;

1. Extortion,
2. Save their goods,
3. Protect their dear lives
4. To avoid harassment from them.

They are referred to as a nuisance to the city as they complicate the busy streets by setting up there stalls on the walkways making it difficult to manoeuvre around. They cause a serious price competition as they sell their goods half the price of the normal prices, hence causing a conflict between them and shop owners. Even though authorities are been involved, Their idea of ending the conflict is by using teargas and batons and overall violence. The hawkers are considered an eyesore but they exist because of demand.

Most of them operate on the late hours of the day when people are tired from work and lazy to go to the markets. In the recent months it has been estimated that over 50,000 hawkers are in Nairobi and  20,000 of them been in CBD. They comprise  students to traders with shops as they try to improve there lives facing the hard economic times.

How did we end up here

The Mwariro hawkers market in Kariokor was grabbed in the late 2017. Due to the land grabbing,hawkers were left with no other solution but to take over CBD. However,At the time former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko took back the market and hawkers moved there.

Back in 2007, When the then President, the late Mwai Kibaki opened the 700 million Muthurwa market, no hawkers was on the streets. After more than a decade down the line,hawkers have gone back to the CBD. This was caused by to the poor drainage and  lighting experienced in the market.

Solutions

Even though Nairobi CBD has turned into a walk through as the hawkers fill any gaps left on the streets. Governor Sakaja has tasked the county officials to come up with a clear plan to ensure that the hawkers are no longer on the streets. Dr Julius Musumba,Acting County Secretary says that authority has already been given the green light to flush the hawkers out of the city. What will happen to them given the dire times of the economy? Will they be sent to the markets that are filled to capacity were its already unsafe?. We are left to sit tight crossing our fingers that a perfect solution will be found.