Mosiria says handouts can do more harm than good to street families
By Valerian Khakayi, January 17, 2026Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has yet again spoken out about the challenges facing street families.
In a statement shared on his official social media accounts on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Mosiria warned Nairobians against giving handouts and direct cash to the families, after one of the street beggars approached him, noting that assistance may not always be the most effective way to help.
He explained that some street families avoid taking responsibility and often rely on handouts, with some even resorting to deception to make ends meet.
“He openly lied to me. Sadly, some of these street families do not want to take responsibility. They choose what seems like an easier life on the streets, where they receive handouts and, at times, survive through deception, “Mosiria stated.
“To cope, some of them camouflage their stories simply to survive. This is the painful reality.”
Alternative help
Mosiria emphasised that giving money directly is not always the solution. Instead, he urged people to provide opportunities, education, rehabilitation, and guidance.
He advised that if direct assistance is necessary, supporters should consider buying food or connecting families to established support services rather than giving cash.
“Giving money is not always the solution. What they truly need are opportunities for education, rehabilitation, and guidance. And if you must help directly, buy them food or link them to support services instead of giving cash,” he added.
In addition, Mosiria highlighted the importance of long-term solutions over temporary relief.
“Sustainable help changes lives; handouts often keep people trapped on the streets,” Mosiria stated.
Mosiria on monetary support
This comes after he appealed to the public to refrain from giving money to street families, explaining why the act keeps them lazy.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, December 11, 2025, Mosiria explained that giving out money to street families encourages them to continue staying in the streets, and when they lack money, they will turn into predators.
“Niliwaambia don’t give street families money. Instead, buy them food. Money encourages them to continue staying in the streets, and when they lack money, they will turn into predators and steal from you,” Mosiria said.
The Nairobi County Chief Officer, while warning members of the public against giving them money, further explained that they indeed have families they turn to after a busy day in the streets.
“If we stop giving them money, they will run away from the streets. If you want to know that street families have homes and relatives, gonga mmoja na gari ndio utajua familia yao wako na pesa – watakukimbisha na kesi hadi usote,” he said.
On his part, Mosiria said a number of the street families in Nairobi are just lazy, explaining that they don’t want to work and have turned netizens into their daily hustle.
“Most street families in Nairobi, especially those women you see begging, some of them are just lazy; they don’t want to work, and they have turned you into their daily hustle,” Mosiria said.
“Ask yourself, where do they go after 7pm? They all disappear and go back to their homes. Most people living with disabilities who are on the streets, the majority are from our neighbouring country, and they are owned by one person who is making millions of money monthly,” he said.
“Don’t give them money if you want to kill this business. The same way you complain business is down is the same way the owners of this disability begging business complain that this month business ya kuomba imekuwa down,” Mosiria narrated.
“My humble appeal: don’t be too generous giving out free money to people who can be empowered to do small businesses. Let’s stop fuelling a hustle that is destroying our city,” he added.