Rigathi Gachagua Claims Sinister Motive is Behind Ban on Nairobi CBD Hawking

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua renewed his rivalry with the Kenya Kwanza Government on Sunday, January 12, claiming that there was an ulterior motive behind the latest directive towards hawkers in the Nairobi CBD.

Gachagua spoke at AIPCA Dandora Parish in Embakasi North Constituency where he slammed Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja for imposing a ban on hawking along walkways within the CBD.

On January 9, the Nairobi County Government also warned hawkers against engaging in business along main streets and roads, which Sakaja insists are meant for pedestrians and not for trading.

Sakaja specifically listed Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road as areas that are off-limits to hawkers.

According to Gachagua, the impending ban on hawkers was by design meant to benefit President William Ruto to pain the Head of State in good light.

“Right now hawkers are suffering and I know it is a plan to swing favour towards Ruto. He has done that before,” Gachagua said as he referenced a past case when Charles Njagua, better known as Jaguar was still a member of Parliament.

Gachagua added, “He is the one planning it and he’s done it since Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime. He goes and organises people’s evacuation from town, then goes to the President to plead for their return, and the president ends up looking like the hero.”

There is no love lost between Gachagua and Sakaja, as the two leaders feud openly played out to the public in 2024 in the run-up to the impeachment motion against the former DP.

On Sunday, Gachagua fired a warning to the Nairobi governor, insisting he had withdrawn the support he gave the former Nairobi Senator in 2022.

“I want to promise you, God willing, never again will our votes go to someone we don’t know too well. We will organize Nairobi properly and look for a governor who will stand for the needs of the Kenyan people. Sakaja, look for the 500,000 votes we gave you elsewhere,” Gachagua said.

The DP’s sentiments came amid a planned protest by hawkers, who intend to make their opposition of Sakaja’s ban known on Monday, January 13.

As of Friday, major corridors and walkways along Moi Avenue and Upper CBD were free of hawkers, reflecting the immediate impact of the county’s enforcement efforts.