Robert Alai Pushes for Hawker Uniforms in CBD as He Turns Heat on Sakaja’s Leadership
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has once again stirred debate after proposing sweeping reforms in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), beginning with a requirement for hawkers to wear uniforms.
Speaking on Tuesday, September 9, Alai faulted Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration, dismissing the measures announced during the governor’s press briefing on city security as inadequate.
“We don’t need endless press conferences; we need action,” Alai said, adding that insecurity in the capital remained a pressing concern.
Among his suggestions, Alai called for hawkers in the CBD to be issued uniforms, a move he argued would help restore order. He also demanded limits on the number of matatus operating in the city centre at any given time and urged closer cooperation between Nairobi County and national security agencies.
The MCA’s proposal is not entirely new—countries like India have already implemented similar policies requiring hawkers to wear uniforms or carry IDs. Pilot programs in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi have shown that identifiable traders are easier to regulate, while criminals disguising themselves as vendors are easier to spot.
Still, hawkers in Nairobi remain a thorny issue. Earlier this year, Sakaja banned them from major city streets including Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Ronald Ngala Street, and River Road. The directive sparked resistance from informal traders who rely heavily on the CBD for business.
Alai’s sharp criticism comes only days after Sakaja narrowly survived an impeachment bid. Although the county assembly put the motion on hold for 60 days, Alai has continued to press for accountability, frequently faulting Sakaja’s leadership on matters such as garbage collection and poor infrastructure services.
With the temporary truce between the governor and the assembly still fragile, Alai’s latest call for uniforms and stricter order in the CBD is likely to reignite debate on how best to balance the interests of informal traders with the need for security and organization in the city.
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Robert Alai Pushes for Hawker Uniforms in CBD as He Turns Heat on Sakaja’s Leadership