Machakos Hawkers Decry mistreatment by Inspectorate officers

Sep 17, 2023 - 12:30

Machakos town MCA Nzioka Wangondi in a Black T-shirt calms down one of the hawkers who had fled from the County enforcement officers in Machakos town, the one in green uniform is Machakos police boss Emmanuel Okanda.( Photo by Joan Vata).

Machakos,

Sunday, September 17,2023

KNA by Anne Kangero/Joan Vata

Hawkers who operate in Machakos town Friday claimed that the county enforcement officers have chased them from their place of work and in an inhumane manner.

The hawkers marched to Machakos police station to air their grievances, where 16 of their colleagues were being held after being arrested during a running battle with the Inspectorate officers. Eight trolleys were also confiscated at the time.

One of the hawkers, Agnes Nduku said she runs a business outside her friend's shop in town adding the business was her only source of income. Nduku said running the business has become a nightmare because the she enforcement officers are always harassing and, in the process, she sometimes incurs losses and damages.

She urged the local leaders to intervene and find ways of having the hawkers run their businesses in peace.

The area MCA Nzioki Wangondi while speaking to the press at the Machakos police station after calming down the irate hawkers, said he will handle the issue and settle all their cases with the Governor.

“The Governor’s office will deal with your grievances, I will not discuss your matter with the ministers nor the Chief Officers but the Governor,” said MCA Wangondi.

He pleaded with them to go back to their workplaces as he resolved the issue of the 16 who were arrested.

Wangondi also warned the hawkers that they are in a restricted place and have no permission or letter from the OCS to meet at the police station which is also near the Machakos law courts.

“Let’s all go back to work peacefully since everything has been resolved and the operation is over, as I try to help release those arrested,” added Wangondi.

The Machakos sub county police commander Emmanuel Okanda warned them that they were breaking the law by converging and creating chaos at the police and near the courts Okanda urged them to maintain calm and that they would release their colleagues and their trolleys according to the law just as they were confiscated according to the law.

Courtesy;KNA