NAIROBI, Kenya – The Senate is spearheading a new legislative effort to rein in rogue county askaris, following damning testimonies of abuse, extortion, and sexual violence, especially in Nairobi, where traders say they have been brutalised by enforcement officers operating with impunity.
The renewed push, led by nominated Senator Beatrice Ogola, seeks to introduce a national law to regulate the conduct, training, and accountability of county inspectorate officers.
Her statement, tabled before the Senate, comes amid growing outrage from informal traders and hawkers who have accused the so-called kanjos of wielding unchecked power, often violently.
“While county enforcement units are central to implementing devolved laws, frequent complaints have emerged about the heavy-handed treatment of informal traders and members of the public,” Ogola said. “We cannot allow such abuse to continue under the guise of law enforcement.”
The Senate’s Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, chaired by Wajir Senator Abass Sheikh, has been tasked with reviewing current laws and proposing far-reaching reforms — including uniform standards for recruitment, training, and penalties for misconduct across all 47 counties.
Ogola also called on the committee to probe whether the Kenya School of Government offers any standardised training for enforcement officers, amid concerns that many operate without professional grounding.
Harrowing Testimonies Spark Demand for Action
Calls for reforms were reignited by harrowing accounts like that of Wanjiru, a Nairobi hawker, who testified before the County Assembly that she had been sexually harassed and violently assaulted by askaris led by an officer known only as “Brown.”
“I was attacked after refusing their demands. They came back, took my stock, beat me up, dragged me on the ground, and called me a prostitute,” she recounted. The assault left her with serious back injuries, forcing her to wear a spinal belt and rely on loans to survive.
“I just want justice, and my items returned. I have bills to pay and children to feed,” she said.
Another trader, Hellen, described the abuse as “routine,” claiming that hawkers must either pay weekly bribes or submit to sexual coercion. “This is nothing new,” she said, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.
Nairobi Inspectorate Under Scrutiny
The revelations come just days after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja conducted a reshuffle within the county’s Inspectorate Department — a move critics say falls short without accountability.
Despite being summoned, Acting Chief Officer Eva Wangechi Wairiuko and City Inspectorate Director Benjamin Omondi failed to appear before the County Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
Mugumo-ini MCA Jared Akama, who chairs the committee, confirmed that investigations into the assault on Wanjiru are ongoing and said officials would be summoned to respond to the claims.
“We will take action. These allegations are serious and demand full accountability,” he said.
CBD MCA Mwaniki Kwenya also tabled a petition calling for the suspension of the Inspectorate’s leadership, citing similar experiences. “I have also been harassed while defending hawkers,” he said.
A Nationwide Problem
Although Nairobi has taken centre stage, similar allegations have surfaced in Mombasa, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Eldoret — highlighting a wider national issue.
Currently, each county operates under its own inspectorate regulations. There is no overarching framework to govern the training, powers, or conduct of enforcement officers — a gap that has allowed misconduct to thrive in the shadows.
If passed, the proposed Senate legislation would harmonise enforcement practices across counties, establish disciplinary mechanisms, and offer victims of abuse a clear legal pathway to seek justice.
“This is not just about Nairobi. It’s about restoring dignity and rule of law in every corner of this country,” Senator Ogola said.
