Brutality of ‘askaris’ battling hawkers using knives

Hawkers engage in running battles with Nairobi County askaris at Globe Cinema roundabout in Nairobi. [Photo: Standard]

Nairobi County Government is in the spotlight following a revelation of dozens of cases involving stabbing of street vendors by county askaris. In a scenario that illustrates raw brutality of the capital city’s inspectorate department personnel; more than 30 hawkers have come out and displayed the wounds inflicted on them by the askaris during daily confrontations in the city.

Scores of hawkers have also died as a result of the gory attacks believed to have started mid last year. Multiple witness and victim accounts show that the county law enforcers have been operating while armed with machetes, knives, pangas, clubs and broken bottles to attack the hawkers.