Eastleigh traders protest continued harassment by police 

Traders in Eastleigh, a key business hub in Nairobi, took to the streets on Thursday to protest against alleged harassment by the police, who have raided their businesses on accusation of stocking contraband milk.

Waving placards and chanting slogans, the traders appealed for the government's intervention, saying the raids have cost them millions of shillings.

Traders in Eastleigh, Nairobi, protest against alleged harassment by the police on February 21, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice found many wholesale shops along Kipande Athumani Street closed.

Thursday's demonstration came a week after businessmen in the area criticised law enforcement officers who conducted raids that led to chaos as residents protested the move.

Last Tuesday, a contingent of officers was deployed to restore order following a raid by a multi-agency team on shops suspected of selling counterfeit milk and milk products.

Plainclothes officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service broke into stores on Mukuyu Avenue, Third Avenue, and Yusuf Haji Avenue.

Traders in Eastleigh, Nairobi, protest against alleged harassment by the police on February 21, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

The business community decried the "unwarranted" monthly raids on shops, putting the spolight on the police, whom they said used live bullets to disperse the protests.

The business people accused the police of breaking into their stores without a search warrant an proper identification, and confiscating goods worth millions of shillings. They also said the officers did not state the purpose of the raids.

Further, the demonstrators denied the claim that they were selling contraband goods.

Traders in Eastleigh, Nairobi, protest against alleged harassment by the police on February 21, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Following last week's raids and demonstrations, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan addressed the matter in Parliament, raising concerns about the conduct of the police officers, which he noted contradicted the rules of the National Police Service (NPS).

Hon. Yusuf Haji (Kamukunji) seeking an intervention with regards to a raid that happened at the Eastleigh Business Centre yesterday, which occasioned business losses

#13thParliament#BungeKE pic.twitter.com/V9vZa0xVT6

— National Assembly KE (@NAssemblyKE) February 14, 2024

The MP formally requested a statement from the Interior ministry.