Nairobi County’s Environment Executive Geoffrey Mosiria has issued a warning to hawkers in Eastleigh, accusing them of turning major roads into open-air markets and creating “lawlessness” that threatens public health and safety.
In a statement issued on September 21, Mosiria said hawkers have blocked transport, dumped waste indiscriminately, and clogged drainages in the busy commercial hub.
He said the county supports small-scale traders but not at the expense of “order, health, and safety.”
“Eastleigh impunity! Hawkers in Eastleigh have turned roads into open-air markets, blocking transport, dumping waste, and endangering lives. This lawlessness is unacceptable,” Mosiria said.
“Let it be clear, order will be restored, and those who persist in illegality will face firm enforcement.”
The county executive described the situation as dire, pointing to garbage piles and blocked stormwater systems that have left sections of the estate vulnerable to flooding.
He further warned that Nairobi cannot progress if its neighborhoods are overwhelmed by disorder.
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“Drainages are blocked, garbage is everywhere, and public health is at risk,” Mosiria said. “Nairobi is a city of order and progress, not chaos and impunity.”
Eastleigh, which is known for trade in textiles, electronics, and imported goods, has long struggled with congestion and unregulated vending.
Residents and business owners have raised complaints about shrinking walkways, traffic snarl-ups, and worsening sanitation.
Geoffrey Mosiria to take Action
While previous county administrations have attempted to crack down on unlicensed hawkers, enforcement has often stalled due to political pressure and the high cost of displacing informal traders without alternative spaces.
Mosiria promised a stepped-up enforcement in the coming days. He further urged hawkers to seek designated trading areas and said the county government will not allow public roads to be turned into markets.
“Supporting traders does not mean tolerating chaos,” he said. “We must protect public health, ensure smooth transport, and keep our city clean.”
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The crackdown comes as City Hall faces growing criticism over garbage collection, poor drainage, and rising pollution levels across Nairobi.
Eastleigh, often referred to as “Little Mogadishu” for its presence of Somali community.
Sakaja on Keeping Nairobi Clean
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had explained why some of Nairobi’s streets remain littered with garbage and why his administration is still grappling with keeping residential areas and city streets clean.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Sakaja cited huge debts left by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) as one of the reasons garbage collection has stalled in certain areas.
“Previously, garbage collection was more like sweeping dirt under the carpet without solving the real problem. Before my administration came in, NMS had contracted many service providers, creating an impression that cleaning was being done. But they left us with a debt of Ksh 16 billion. Imagine, contractors were being paid Ksh 1.6 billion every month, yet the national government only sends us Ksh 1.7 billion. With that balance, what other services could we possibly provide?” Sakaja explained.
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