On Wednesday, Nairobi County officers moved to the streets on a specific mission. To vandalize and seize smokie carts and vendors in Nairobi CBD.
Kenyans expressed their frustrations online by calling out Governor Sakaja and the government in general for harassing traders. Pictures were spread showing smokies and eggs all over the place. Kanjos were also loading carts into lorries.
Sakaja had hinted a move to relocate hawkers from the Nairobi CBD. Relocation of up to 6,500 hawkers to mantain order and cleanliness in the city.
Maureen Njeri, the Nairobi County Executive for Hustlers and Business Opportunities said on July 31, 2023: “We intend to relocate the hawkers and create order in the CBD as per our RRI targets,” Nairobi County Executive for Hustlers and Business Opportunities, Maureen Njeri stated on July 31, 2023.
The Governor in a statement expressed regret of the Kanjos actions and said the responsible persons will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Also adding that each victim of today’s incident to be compensated.
“I have ordered the immediate release of all confiscated items, apologized to the traders and personally compensated each of them to the tune of 10,000 shillings each,”
Sakaja while condemning the incident said even without proper documentation, the vendors didn’t deserve such treatment
“Even if the traders were operating without the required documentation, including a Medical Certificate from Public Health that every food handler must have for the safety of Nairobians, they did not deserve such treatment and we are dealing with this internally,”
Among the leaders who have condemned the action is David Ndii. He said that vendors relocation won’t work because they come where customers are.
“That’s why I keep prodding Johnson Sakaja on it. Sakaja run on an “order” platform. His plan was to put hustlers in markets. Street vendors are on streets because that’s where customers are”