Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ordered the immediate release of all items confiscated by security personnel who targeted street food vendors on Wednesday.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Nairobi Governor noted that the events that transpired in the CBD were highly regrettable, vowing to take action on those found culpable.
“We have had cordial relations with informal traders for a year but lately there have been unfortunate incidences that seek to sabotage that. We will take disciplinary action,” Sakaja said.
“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.
While the traders may have been operating without the necessary documentation Sakaja noted that they shouldn’t have been evicted in the manner that they 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.”
The move by Sakaja comes following public outrage after Nairobi County Inspectorate officers on Wednesday embarked on a crackdown on popular ‘smokie-mayai’ vendors leaving behind a trail of destruction.
In photos circulated online, vandalised trollies common with smokie-mayai vendors could be seen strewn on the streets, with owners standing by counting losses.
In another photo, several trollies impounded by the county askaris and piled together were seen being loaded into a truck.
Eggs and smokies could also be seen thrown all over the pavement, with broken glass beside them, an indication of the destruction from the push and pull between the law enforcers and the hawkers.
President William Ruto’s top economic advisor David Ndii earlier on criticised Governor Sakaja over Wednesday’s crackdown on the food vendors by county officers.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter on Wednesday, Ndii faulted the county boss for the directive saying his leadership was not a reflection of the ‘Hustler Narrative’ championed by President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government under which Sakaja was elected.
