Traders hard hit by security operation

By KIUNDU WAWERU

Nairobi, Kenya: For the past one week, Eastleigh has been a ghost town or more like a war zone.

Uniformed officers in groups are seen patrolling every corner of the street walking on foot, some inside slow-moving trucks and others in residential homes.

But on Thursday, the business community could not take it anymore. Having been hard hit by the security operation, they decided to call for a protest on Friday. They would not open their shops after prayers. 

All the same, there was a go-slow even morning hours as most businesses opted to remain closed. But the planned demonstration was not to be.

“At the mosques, we were informed the protest had been called off,” said Mohamed Noor, the manager of Nahrain Restaurant on 12th Street.

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“The Eastleigh Business Committee members had called for a peaceful go-slow. But they learnt that some rowdy youth were planning to hijack it.”

With the heavy police presence in the area following the Operation Usalama Watch, business leaders feared violence might erupt.

Our efforts to get the officials of the committee or most of the big business owners are fruitless as everyone is fearful and guarded in giving information.

Noor tells us that businesses ranging from miraa trading, hotels, to boutiques have suffered since the crackdown began.

“No one is buying, no one is hiring,” he says.

Mahat Hassan, a taxi driver adds: “For us we do not ask for identity cards. We are just interested in the money they pay us. But the police stop us, and ask our customers to alight. We do not get a chance to ask for our payments.”