Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has called for fair treatment of Eastleigh and Gikomba traders.
The Kamukunji MP urges Nairobi County to protect traders’ livelihoods and hold enforcement officers accountable for misconduct.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has urged Nairobi City County to stop alleged trader harassment in Eastleigh and Gikomba. He warned that arbitrary arrests and destruction of merchandise threaten small business owners’ livelihoods.
In a statement on Sunday, Hassan accused county enforcement officers, commonly known as askaris, of intimidating traders and hawkers. He also alleged that officers confiscate merchandise and destroy goods during enforcement operations in the two commercial centres.
Hassan calls for accountability over trader harassment
Hassan outlined four demands: an end to alleged harassment and arbitrary arrests, protection of property, dialogue with traders and accountability. He specifically called for a halt to destruction and unlawful confiscation of merchandise.
The MP also demanded action against officers found to have abused their authority. He maintained that county officials must enforce regulations within the law while respecting traders’ rights and livelihoods.
Although Hassan supported enforcing county rules and maintaining order, he urged officers to act fairly and humanely. He argued that Nairobi could address licensing and trading-space challenges through engagement rather than intimidation.
To that end, he called for discussions with traders and their representatives to develop practical solutions. Such engagement, he said, should protect livelihoods while safeguarding the city’s interests.
Small businesses face risks to daily income
Hassan said the alleged conduct was especially troubling because small businesses already face difficult economic conditions. Many of these enterprises provide families with essential income and create employment opportunities, he noted.
He also highlighted Eastleigh and Gikomba’s contribution to Nairobi’s economy and the county’s revenue. For that reason, he argued, officials should treat traders as development partners rather than targets of intimidation.
The legislator warned that losing merchandise could leave vulnerable households without their daily earnings. He singled out mama mboga and hawkers as traders whose families depend on income from their goods.
Hassan said he would continue engaging the relevant authorities over the concerns of traders in Kamukunji. He called for enforcement that protects their livelihoods alongside the county’s responsibility to regulate trading.
