TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

The streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District have become battlegrounds not just for space but for dignity and safety for female traders.

Revelations from the female hawkers exposed widespread harassment by some rogue county askaris, known locally as Kanjo officers, igniting outrage among Nairobi County Assembly members.

The matter came to light during a session of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday, May 14, when Jenipher Wambui, a female hawker from the CBD, courageously detailed the abuses she and many others endure.

Wambui testified that some Kanjo officers exploit their authority by demanding sexual favours in exchange for permission to hawk within the city centre.

“Once a Kanjo officer proposes this option and you refuse, your life as a trader in Nairobi CBD becomes unbearable,” Wambui said.

She described how women who reject these advances face severe physical assault, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful detention, often at the notorious OTC General Store holding facility.

According to Wambui, young female hawkers are particularly vulnerable to this exploitation. Even when operating in designated areas and paying required fees, they are frequently arrested on fabricated charges and forced to pay fines.

“Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether you have paid the required taxes and levies; we are left with a terrible choice: either pay weekly bribes for peace of mind or submit to the sexual demands of these officers to be able to work in a safe environment,” she said.

Wambui named one officer, referred to as “Brown,” as a repeat offender in these abuses.

In response, Mwaniki Kwenya, MCA for Nairobi CBD, demanded immediate investigations by both the County Government and the Police.

He emphasised the need for swift action to address the violations and pledged that the assembly will work on necessary by-laws to regulate hawking activities and protect vulnerable traders.

Kwenya explained that hawkers frequently spill into the CBD because the county has neglected essential infrastructure, such as road repairs and street lighting, in the backstreets and other designated trading areas.

“Some of these areas you want them to operate from have been occupied by street families, making it difficult for legitimate business,” he explained.

He proposed the immediate suspension of the leadership of the City Inspectorate Department due to their failure to protect human rights.

Furthermore, Kwenya urged the county to deploy only trained female inspectorate officers to manage and interact with female hawkers, ensuring a safer and more respectful environment.

In a related incident previously covered by , tension flared in Nairobi after residents clashed with city council officers who attempted to confiscate goods from a local hardware store.

The incident, captured on video, showed the officers seizing plywood from a pick-up, prompting an emotional reaction from nearby residents.

One bold individual pulled back the confiscated items, drawing attention and support from others. Another resident, visibly agitated, confronted a kanjo officer with a hammer before slapping him in front of a growing crowd.

As tempers rose, onlookers condemned the officers’ actions, accusing them of targeting struggling citizens.

Source: TUKO.co.ke