Nairobi County has launched a renewed crackdown on illegal billboards and visual clutter, targeting major roads like Mombasa Road, Ngong Road, and Waiyaki Way. Advertising firms are urged to voluntarily remove non-compliant structures or face forced removal and penalties.

• The intensified operation is part of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s broader urban renewal and beautification agenda.
• Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning Patrick Analo stated that most billboards in targeted areas are erected unlawfully.
• The crackdown follows a similar initiative by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) on the Eastern Bypass Corridor due to aesthetic and safety concerns.
• Rogue operators tampering with power lines for pole-based billboards are also compromising city lighting infrastructure.
• Governor Sakaja previously threatened to deregister Private Service Providers facilitating unlawful waste dumping across the city.

A recent poll has revealed a significant shift in the anticipated 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race, with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino emerging as the frontrunner, particularly among the youth. The survey indicates he is currently more popular than incumbent Governor Johnson Sakaja.

• Babu Owino garnered 28.1% support, surpassing Governor Johnson Sakaja's 16.4% in a survey of 1063 voters across Nairobi's 17 constituencies.
• Former Kemsa chairperson Irungu Nyakera also polled ahead of Sakaja with 19.2% support, while Embakasi North MP James Gakuya received 11.2%.
• Owino's popularity is especially high among Gen-Z (18-24 year olds), with 62% stating they would elect him, and strong backing from the Eastlands area.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has explained that the decision to ban business tents from the Central Business District (CBD) was a direct response to rising chaos and to improve the area's aesthetic. This move aims to prevent the capital from resembling an open-air market.

• The ban targets "unchecked mushrooming of tents" for selling items like mobile phones, which created a nuisance and interfered with the CBD's appearance.
• Governor Sakaja emphasized the need for proper organization, citing the walkways along the Nairobi National Archives as a model and promising designated areas for businesses.
• Business tents gained popularity after COVID-19, but faced criticism for unfair competition and security concerns; this is not the first time Sakaja has taken a firm stance against unauthorized street vending, having previously warned hawkers against trading in off-limit areas.