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Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has stepped in to help a young hawker who was caught in a viral video being harassed by city askaris.

Sakaja met the 14-year-old hawker identified as Ndagire Renova who hails from Burundi.

“Nairobi City Governor Hon. Sakaja Johnson has this afternoon met with Ndagire Renova, the young trader caught up in an unfortunate incident during routine enforcement by NCCG Security and Compliance Officers yesterday. The trader is a 14-year-old minor from Burundi who was found selling peanuts in Nairobi CBD in contravention of the County’s street vending/hawking guidelines,” a statement by Nairobi country reads in part.

After investigating the unfortunate incident involving Burundian minor Ndagire Renova whose items were spilt yesterday, I met him and later engaged Burundian Ambassador to Kenya to discuss safeguarding the minor as well as dealing with the child trafficking/hawking & beggar… pic.twitter.com/qoFNKMkYpS

— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) November 22, 2023

According to the statement, the county boss upon identifying Ndagire as a Burundian national, reached out to the Ambassador of Burundi to Kenya, Ntahonkuriye Emmernece to ensure that the young man receives the necessary support to resume his education and secure a future for himself.

“Following the meeting with the Governor, the County has engaged the Ambassador of Burundi to Kenya Ms Ntahonkuriye Emmernece to ensure the young man is supported in his best interests to resume school and secure a future. The County will further engage with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the issue of child trafficking and immigration where there has been an influx of illegal hawkers and beggars from neighbouring countries flooding Nairobi,” the statement added.

Hawker-kanjo dramas

In light of the incident that has touched the nerves of the public, Sakaja facilitated a meeting earlier this month, bringing together hawker leaders, traders, and enforcement officers to establish operating zones and times for hawkers in the CBD.

Sakaja noted that in spite of agreed terms and adherence to the rules set, unfortunate incidents, such as the one involving Ndagire, highlight ongoing challenges in the enforcement process.

Sakaja noted the need for enforcement officers to treat traders with dignity and in a humane manner.

According to the statement, the minor struggled with the bucket of peanuts, spilling its contents onto the ground after the handle broke.

Additionally, the tactic is reportedly employed by several hawkers, and often attracts sympathy and public outrage, preventing further arrests.

“Unfortunately, when Ndagire was caught and the enforcement officer impounded his goods, the minor struggled for the bucket spilling its contents onto the ground after the handle broke; Something he has been reported to have previously done at Afya Centre and outside City Market. A number of hawkers employ this tactic which naturally attracts sympathy and public outrage and prevents their further arrest,” the statement noted.