Hii ni mchezo sasa!: Mosiria warns Kenyans against enabling street begging in Kilimani
Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has warned Kenyans against giving money directly to street beggars in Kilimani, saying the practice encourages dependency rather than offering real help.
In a long post shared on his X account on Saturday, February 28, 2026, Mosiria narrated how he recently met a woman in the Kilimani area late at night with her two young children, asking for financial help.
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“I don’t blame her, we are the problem!” he wrote.
Mosiria said the first time he encountered the woman, she told him that her house had been locked and that she was a single mother going through distress. She asked him for Ksh 2,500 to help her sort out the situation. Out of compassion, he revealed that he gave her Ksh3,000.
However, the following day, he found the same woman on the same street telling a similar story to other well-wishers. He said he documented the incident, warned her and shared the information publicly to caution others.
Nearly a year later, Mosiria says he met the same woman again, this time on a different road in Kilimani, with yet another story. According to him, she was now claiming that her husband had chased her away from home.
“It has become clear that she uses her children to seek sympathy from well-meaning Kenyans who end up giving her money. Unfortunately, this has turned into a pattern,” he stated.
Mosiria argued that instead of seeking honest work like many hardworking women, the woman appears to have chosen begging because it brings in easy money.
“On a good week, she can collect up to Ksh 10,000, more than what some casual labourers earn through legitimate work,” he said.
The county official urged Kenyans to stop giving money directly to people on the streets, saying the practice may be doing more harm than good.
“I urge Kenyans to stop giving money directly in such situations. Let us offer sustainable solutions such as job opportunities and structured support that promote dignity and self-reliance,” he said.
Mosiria added that he is willing to help the woman’s children access proper care and also assist her in finding employment.
“Let’s support people in ways that empower them, not enable dependency,” he stated.
