Sakaja hawking ban linked to King Charles III visit
A section of Kenyans on X speculatesthat the prohibition on street vending, recently declared by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, could be in preparation for the forthcoming visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The British Royal family is set to tour Kenya from October 21-November 3, 2023.
On October 25, 2023, the county boss, said during a consultative meeting with inspectors manning the CBD and representatives of the hawkers that there would be no hawking on the streets within the CBD. He explained that the decision was aimed at restoring sanity and dignity to the CBD.
“There will be no hawking on the streets. I’m enforcing it from Thursday morning, even around the bus station. I will not allow it,” he said.
As a result, Kenyans on X said;
“King Charles III and Queen Camilla are visiting next week and it is a must that we be presentable. After they leave, we will be told that I was also schooled with money from chapati and smoke so you can continue hawking. Please understand Governor Johnson Sakaja he cannot clearly say that it is because of the guests,” wrote Bravin Yuri.
“It is ordered from above so that the guests are happy and we are given some good donations,” said Its Koech.
“It is that time for taking out the guests’ plates,” wrote Benjie.
“Now we get it,” said Otieno Evans.
“That’s the price of development. Whether we like it or not,” said Rysk.
“The games of pretending that all is well yet it is a blatant lie. The Kenyan political class is full of deception each time,” wrote Brian Wattanga.
During his announcement, Governor Sakaja explained that the ban was not only for the safety of hawkers who risk their lives selling their wares on the roads but also to allow motorists to move around with ease. He said more vehicles would have space to park as some hawkers had been occupying parking spaces within the CBD.
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