I'm Sorry: Sakaja Tells Harassed Hawkers, Compensates Them With Sh10,000 Each

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has expressed his disapproval of the mistreatment of street vendors by his inspectors during daylight hours.

In an unfortunate incident, the City Inspectorate had an altercation with minor traders during their attempt to clamp down on those vending without documentation from the county government. Governor Sakaja has intervened by expressing regret for the distress they caused and has issued directives for the immediate release of every wrongly confiscated item. The governor has also stepped in and paid each hawker a sum of Sh10,000 in compensation for their loss and the inconvenience caused by the conflict.

He emphasizes that the behaviour exhibited by his inspectorate officers was unnecessary, reiterating his administration's consistent effort to treat residents of Nairobi with respect. Traders in the informal sector had been working amicably with the administration for the better part of last year, but hopeful progress was dashed by outbreaks of violence between traders and officers. This recent behaviour has not reflected positively on the local government. To resolve these concerns, the governor says that measures are being taken to hold those officers accountable for these incidents. In a similar spirit of compassion and fairness, voices have emerged calling on the governance to meet the basic standards of human dignity that so often go unseen.

David Ndii, an economist and the chairman of President Ruto's Presidential Council of Economic Advisors, places the blame for this unfortunate situation squarely on the governor. Ndii highlights the need for more support for hustlers within the Nairobi County leadership. The County Executive Committee member responsible for trade, Ms Maureen Njeri has failed to provide a comment on the matter despite repeated attempts to reach out to her office.