Why Business Tents Were Banned in Nairobi CBD
Business tents were previously prevalent in the CBD particularly during the weekends...
✨ Key Highlights
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.
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Nairobi County Cracks Down on Illegal Billboards and Bans Business Tents in CBD - September 2025
Nairobi County has launched a renewed crackdown on illegal billboards and visual clutter, targeting major roads including Mombasa Road, Ngong Road, and Waiyaki Way. Advertising firms have been urged to voluntarily remove non-compliant structures or face forced removal and penalties. Separately, Governor Johnson Sakaja explained that the ban on business tents in the Central Business District is a direct response to rising chaos and aims to improve the area's aesthetic. The move is intended to prevent the capital from resembling an open-air market. These administrative actions occur as a recent poll on the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race shows Embakasi East MP Babu Owino as the frontrunner, indicating he is currently more popular than the incumbent Governor Sakaja, particularly among the youth.
