[Hold] Struggles of traders: battling theft in the heart of Eastleigh
In the bustling streets of Eastleigh and Nairobi, losing belongings has sadly become all too common.
For Bernard Kait, a clothes vendor at Eastleigh Garissa Lounge, a painful incident left him bewildered.
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"I remember losing goods worth around Sh10,000. I had just alighted a bus when a loader approached, offering to help carry my goods. But that's all I recall, as he hurried away, leaving me empty-handed," Bernard recalls with frustration.
"I didn't report the incident because I barely got a good look at his face. Everything happened so quickly, and I've never seen him since," he adds, pleading with the government to protect traders from such people.
Pascalia Moraa, another trader in Eastleigh, shares her own harrowing experience.
"We often face challenges from pickpocketers posing as buyers, only to steal from us," she says.
"They operate in groups, passing on stolen items to others. Even if caught, they rarely have the stolen goods, making prosecution difficult."
According to Pascalia, traders have suffered significant losses, from their merchandise to personal belongings, at the hands of these impostors posing as loaders or customers.
Nicholas Njoroge Mwangi highlights the impact these dishonest loaders have on their businesses.
"Our business has been greatly affected because many customers no longer trust us. It's common to hear customers asking us not to steal their property," he laments.
"Many customers are now using alternative means to transport their goods, such as cabs or hiring specific helpers, significantly impacting our business," Nicholas adds. He emphasises that the high unemployment rate has pushed many into theft, suggesting that keeping young, jobless men occupied could reduce theft and pickpocketing cases significantly.
While these challenges aren't unique to Eastleigh and affect Nairobi County as a whole, the area has emerged as a vibrant business hub, attracting traders and hawkers alike.
According to the 2019 census, Eastleigh has a population of approximately 348,778, with many more flocking daily from different parts of Nairobi to trade.
Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Financial Inclusion Household Report reveal that about a quarter of Nairobi's population is employed. However, a fifth of the city's growing adult population forms a dependent group, comprising approximately 20.3 per cent.
The report further indicates that the majority of city dwellers rely on casual labour for their livelihoods, with at least 22.3 per cent being business owners. With the current unemployment rate in Kenya standing at 5.5 per cent, many young people have turned to entrepreneurship to combat poverty's harsh realities.
Mohamed Adan, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Eastleigh Business District Association (EBDA), whose primary goal is to create a friendly business environment, discouraged theft and urged victims to report cases to the police for investigations and appropriate action.
The police were not immediately available for comment on the theft reports, whether any suspects have been arrested, or the progress of investigations.
The findings of a report by the National Crime and Research Centre (NCRC) indicate that more than 50 per cent of Kenyans fell victim to crimes in the past year but that most opted not to file police reports for reasons including fear of losing the cases due to high corruption rates within criminal justice agencies, stringent evidence requirements, and a general lack of legal process awareness.
The report also notes that the majority of city residents rely on casual labour for sustenance, with approximately 22.3 per cent being business owners. With Kenya's unemployment rate at 5.5 per cent, many youths have embraced entrepreneurship and odd jobs to mitigate the harsh realities of poverty.
Susceptibility to crime victimisation is influenced by gender, age, and lifestyle, the study also noteds.
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