Nairobi hawkers speak out on sexual harassment, assault in hands of City askaris
She displayed injuries on her back, which later required a spinal belt and medical treatment. Wanjiru said the situation deteriorated further after she threatened to expose the officers.
Wanjiru spent years pushing her cart through the streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District, striving to earn an honest living.
But behind her quiet determination lies a harrowing tale of harassment, assault, and fear — one she says has pushed her to the brink.
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“It has taken a lot of courage for me to speak out. I’m standing up for many who are too afraid to talk, for fear of losing their lives or livelihoods,” Wanjiru told the Nairobi County Assembly.
Wanjiru has accused Nairobi city inspectorate officers, commonly known as kanjos, of subjecting hawkers, especially women, to sexual harassment, extortion, and violence.
She said the abuse had become so routine that many now see it as the price of survival on the streets.
“I have experienced it personally. My colleagues have also been told to sleep with these officers to hawk without interference,” she told Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
She spoke of an officer known by the street name “Brown”, whom she accused of leading a group that specifically targets female traders.
“They don’t woo us or make advances. They simply expect us to comply,” Wanjiru said.
She recounted a violent attack in March, after she refused to give in to their sexual demands.
“They came back, confiscated my goods, assaulted me, and dragged me along the ground. Their leader called me a prostitute and declared I would not be allowed to sell there again.”
She displayed injuries on her back, which later required a spinal belt and medical treatment.
Wanjiru said the situation deteriorated further after she threatened to expose the officers.
A temporary lull was followed by an even more brutal assault. Despite her injuries, she said she had no choice but to continue speaking out.
“I can’t take my children to school. I have bills to pay, and I’m surviving on loans from friends. I just want justice and to get my items back,” she said.
Another hawker, Hellen, said such abuse had become commonplace.
“This is nothing new. You either pay a weekly bribe or sleep with one of them,” she said, declining to provide her full name due to safety concerns.
These revelations come nearly five months after Governor Johnson Sakaja reshuffled the Inspectorate Department. Tony Kimani, the former Chief Officer for Security and Compliance, was moved to the Customer Care docket, while Eva Wangechi Wairiuko was appointed Acting Chief Officer.
However, both Wairiuko and the Director of City Inspectorate, Benjamin Omondi, failed to appear before the County Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee despite being summoned.
Mugumo-ini MCA Jared Akama, the committee chairperson, confirmed that investigations are underway following Wanjiru’s complaint.
Nairobi CBD MCA Mwaniki Kwenya also tabled a petition accusing inspectorate officers of similar misconduct and called for the suspension of the department’s leadership.
“I have also been harassed by officers while trying to protect hawkers,” Kwenya said.
“We will take action. The heads of the Inspectorate Department will be summoned to appear next week to respond to these serious allegations,” Akama said.
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