Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has apologised to street vendors harassed by City askaris on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
In a statement, Sakaja announced that he had compensated the vendors with Ksh10,000 each for the loss incurred during the operation which saw several lose valuables.
“The happenings in the CBD earlier today were most unfortunate. This is not the way to treat Nairobians as we have continually implored our officers to treat Nairobians with dignity,” Sakaja stated.
According to Sakaja, the incident was an effort to sabotage his administration, which he says has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the vendors.
“We have had cordial relations with informal traders for a year but lately, there have been unfortunate incidences that seek to sabotage that,” he added.
Sakaja to take disciplinary action
The governor, who ordered the release of all confiscated items, promised to take disciplinary action against the askaris involved.
“We will take disciplinary action. I have ordered the immediate release of all confiscated items, apologized to the traders and personally compensated each of them to the tune of 10,000 shillings each,” Sakaja said.
According to the city boss, the vendors did not deserve such treatment, even though some of them have not met all the legal requirements to operate in the city.
“Even if the traders were operating without the required documentation, including a Medical Certificate from Public Health that every food handler must have for the safety of Nairobians, they did not deserve such treatment and we are dealing with this internally,” Sakaja stated.
On Wednesday, photos and videos were shared online showing smokies and boiled eggs sprawled on the road as the askaris arrested the vendors.
Some of the trollies belonging to the vendors were broken during the operation.
