Speaking on Radio Citizen on Wednesday, Sakaja said hawking would remain a reality in Nairobi because it provides a livelihood for many people, just like any other profession.
The governor stated that the county government was working on measures to reduce congestion and conflicts between hawkers and authorities.
“Hawking and street business is something that will never end. It requires us to manage it because those people are also looking for a livelihood,” Sakaja said.
The governor said the county had engaged with street traders and agreed on designated areas and specific hours when they would be allowed to operate, saying it is not fair to disrupt stalls that have paid for licenses. Yet, hawkers come to sell the same product in front of the premises.
He said that his government has established at least 20 markets that would further help reduce street hawking by providing traders with designated spaces to conduct their businesses.
Sakaja blamed successive governments for failing to provide adequate trading spaces for informal traders, saying the county was now working to address the problem.
During the interview, Governor Sakaja also dismissed claims that Nairobi County had introduced charges targeting content creators who take photographs and videos in the city.
He said the charges being referred to applied to large-scale international and local film productions and not ordinary content creators.
“There is no way content creators will be charged in Nairobi when I am the governor,” Sakaja said, adding that the county was planning a photography festival where photographers would compete for an award for the best image depicting Nairobi.
On healthcare, Sakaja said Pumwani Maternity Hospital had recorded zero maternal mortality while handling more than 11,000 deliveries in the past year. He said the facility had handled about 16,000 deliveries in the previous year.
He also cited the expansion of neonatal services, saying Nairobi currently had 23 neonatal beds, while Mathare North Hospital had performed 65 Caesarean sections.
Sakaja said the county had also deployed 50 dentists to every sub-county as part of efforts to improve access to dental care.
On infrastructure, the governor said Nairobi was preparing for heavy rains through a Sh2.4 billion drainage programme, which he said would help the city respond better to El Niño-related flooding.
He also said the county had made progress in public transport, describing the planned mass transit system as a significant development, although he maintained that Nairobi ultimately needs an underground metro system.
Sakaja said the county’s approach to street hawking reflected a broader shift from enforcement alone to creating systems that allow informal businesses to operate within an organized urban environment
