Economy

New City Hall team promises to restore sanity to CBD

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City Hall says its crackdown has extended to other areas including matatu traffic violations. FILE PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

The Nairobi County Government has formed a sub-committee tasked with restoring order and sanity in the central business district(CBD) following complaints from businesses over hawkers’ invasion of key streets.

The committee will comprise deputy governor Jonathan Mueke, county executive committee member Mercy Kamau, county secretary Robert Ayisi, Francis Munyambu - the chief officer of enforcement and chief officer sub-county administration John Ntoiti.

City Hall says its crackdown on hawkers operating in the CBD has extended to other areas including illegal dumping of garbage, matatu and boda boda traffic violations, illegal structures, illegal car washes, loud music from bars in residential areas, street families and illegal roadside eateries.

“All car washes, kiosks and hawkers will be arrested with immediate effect,” he said.

Mr Mueke also warned city residents buying wares from hawkers that they will also be arrested and fined.

The County will also arrest and charge traffic offenders that including boda bodas and matatus that overlap and take more than 4 minutes in terminuses.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mr Mueke said the move was prompted by the interdiction of six inspectorate officers on allegations of negligence and possible impropriety.

“The officers were soliciting for bribes to abet the current lawlessness, disorder, wanton garbage, illegal use of parking bays by matatus, continued obstruction by boda boda riders and hawkers in the Central Business District (CBD) causing insecurity and disorder in the City,” said Mr Mueke.

READ: Kidero sacks city director, senior officers over hawkers menace

ALSO READ: Growing pain for businesses as hawkers take over Nairobi streets

Mr Mueke said the sub-committee had resolved that all county staff responsible for enforcement will be assigned specific roles to perform, failure to which they shall be suspended and a termination process initiated.

The county government also says it has also deployed 700 enforcement officers to ensure illegal structures in the city are brought down.