Nairobians frustrated by madness in city streets

Nairobi’s streets have been invaded by beggars, hawkers, street children, boda bodas and matatus, leading to a public outcry.

This comes at a time when the county government is trying to find a way to decongest the city centre.

Hawkers have taken over all open spaces and streets, endangering pedestrians who have to share the roads with vehicles.

Now Nairobi Governor Mike  Sonko has said that the county has identified Mwariro market in Kariokor as a permanent place to move hawkers.

Mr Sonko said plans were under way to reconstruct the market so it can host as many small scale traders as possible.

Mr Sonko added that there is also a plan to acquire the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union building on Haile Selassie Avenue and transform it into a hawkers’ market.

On street children, the governor said the county has been taking them to children’s homes but the problem is those aged over 18 years.

He said that he will work with the police to arrest those over 18.

“Some of them are over 18 and they are stealing from people and harassing residents. They belong in jail not the streets,” said Mr Sonko.

The governor added that most street families have homes where they go back to in the evening.

On matatus, the governor said there has been great improvement since the owners agreed on self-regulation. The governor had threatened to ban all the public service vehicles from entering the city centre if they did not follow regulations.

Boda bodas are, however, still a major problem as they flout traffic rules, endangering residents.

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