The Kenyan National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that hawkers and street families occupying footbridges and underpasses are set for a clear-out.
In a statement released on Saturday September 20, KeNHA revealed that the nationwide operation would seek to remove the two groups, accusing them of encroaching on the installations to such an extent that they had become unusable.
“Footbridges are designed to provide a safe, efficient, and often pleasant passage for pedestrians. Unfortunately, most footbridges along the highways are now unfeasible to use due to encroachment by hawkers and street families,” KeNHA stated.
“In a bid to deter any further loss of life, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), has launched an operation to clear all footbridges and underpasses of any hawkers and street families, as well as clean them,” added the Authority.
According to the Authority, the encroachment led to pedestrians crossing the road in undesignated areas, often leading to tragic accidents and compromising road safety.
KeNHA disclosed that the operation was being conducted in collaboration with the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), County Governments, National Police Service, Axle Load Enforcement Unit (ALEHU), and the KeNHA Corridor C team.
While making the announcement, the Authority noted that it had kicked off the exercise along the Ruiru–Thika section of the Thika Superhighway.
In the past, Kenyans have raised alarm on the proliferation of hawkers on footbridges and underpasses, arguing that their activities disrupted the transport network and compromised their safety.
A 2019 study in the Journal of Transport & Health showed that pedestrian accidents increase by 40 per cent when footbridges are obstructed by hawkers and street families.
In Kenya, while the exact number of footbridges is unknown, figures put the number at approximately 200 to 300 as of September 2025. This is expected to rise, as plans are in place to construct at least 17 new footbridges in Nairobi.
In August 2025, KeNHA approved the construction of a Ksh100 million footbridge in Ruiru, Kiambu County, as part of measures to curb the prevalent road accidents along the busy route.
According to the Authority, the multi-million-shilling project was expected to commence in mid-August this year, with the construction of the bridge expected to take about one and a half years to complete.
KeNHA's approval followed concerns from area residents who have repeatedly expressed worries about dangerous crossings and accidents along the Thika Superhighway.
