Nairobi County to Discipline Inspector Involved in Scuffle with a TikToker

The County Government of Nairobi has addressed the recent viral video featuring a confrontation between one of its inspectorate officers and a female motorist.

According to County Secretary Mr Patrick Analo, the unauthorized vehicle entry by the officer cannot be condoned. However, he says that the car owner could have taken appropriate measures by reporting to either a police station or County Government offices. Mr Analo also believes that detaining a person for illegally entering a car is wrong and advises seeking assistance at the nearest police station. He disapproves of the officer's behaviour and guarantees disciplinary action against him for overstepping his bounds. Mr Analo assures fairness in handling the situation for both the accused officer and the complainant, who is a well-known TikToker known as Ntazola.

“It is also wrong to detain somebody just because he illegally got into your car. Rush with him or her to the nearest police station. So the two of them are on the wrong,” he says.

The video that went viral shows a driver making unwanted comments while driving from Nairobi's Central Business District to her home in Ngong which is approximately 20km away. Another video captures the lady driving on the Nairobi Expressway while the officer looks on passively as she continues her rant. Analo says that taking a person to Ngong against their will is considered a form of abduction. The County Secretary adds that according to the law, inspectorate officers are not allowed to enter a private vehicle without permission. If there is a concern that the motorist might flee during a vehicle inspection, an alarm can be triggered to intercept the vehicle.

Regarding the issue of harassment of informal traders, the County Secretary says that Governor Johnson Sakaja is handling the matter and that the county is in the final stages of relocating them to the backstreets. The plan includes creating 2,000 hawking slots with sheds in the city's backstreets. Additionally, designated streets will be designated where they can access the central business district during specific hours and days of the week. This initiative aims to integrate the registered Nairobi hawkers into the formal economy, enabling them to pay taxes and fees.