Hawkers within Nairobi CBD are urging the Nairobi County Assembly and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to reign on rogue city inspectorate officers who are harassing them.
Speaking to K24 Digital, the Hawkers Association Chairman John Gachuhu decried increasing cases of arbitrary arrests, harassment, and extortion of hawkers by the Kanjos without any mistake.
Gachuhu accused the Kanjos of brutally attacking hawkers instead of arresting and arranging them in court if they find them going against the city's bylaws.
Also Read:
The development comes amid complaints from a hawker who reportedly lost his teeth after being attacked by the inspectorate officers. The officers are said to have hit the hawker with a metal rod while handcuffed.
Another is also said to be at Mbagathi hospital nursing injuries he allegedly sustained in the hands of the country officers.
"One of our colleagues was on Monday beaten like a snake by the Kanjos. He was beaten because he refused to give the officers a bride they had demanded from him," Gachuhu claimed.
Gachuhu also claimed that the Kanjos, mostly new recruits, have been throwing stones at the hawkers whenever they handle them.
Head of City Inspectorate Mark Leruk has, however, dismissed the allegations noting that his officers are just doing their work professionally.
He, however, assured the hawkers that his office will take action against officers found harassing or exporting the hawkers.
"I haven't heard any cases of extortion from my officers and if there is one kindly let the affected hawkers come forward and report, my office will take action," Leruk said.
