County askaris should desist from using crude weapons

The animosity between county askaris, small-scale traders and hawkers cross the country predates devolution.

It is common to hear of commotion between these groups, but it is unfortunate most county governments have not seen need to re-train the group formerly known as council askaris to instil professionalism in them.

This should be because maximisation of revenue collection, which is paramount for smooth running of our counties, depends on cultivating cordial working relationship with tax payers.

An inheritance from the defunct city councils, the askaris have become very unpopular with businessmen for their inherent tendencies to use brute force and intimidation where admonition or verbal warning would suffice.

In Nairobi, the men in charge of the city's security have resorted to illegalities in the execution of their duties. Hawkers have raised alarm and complained about the crude weapons they use in the course of duty.

It is not uncommon to find the security enforces armed with broken beer bottles, knives, clubs, and machetes which they indiscriminately use on their victims as they enforce county government orders. This calls into question the kind of instructions they get from their superiors.

Does it mean county governments condone such barbaric behaviour?

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says it has received complaints against the askaris. Clearly, when aggrieved citizens go to the the commission with such grievances, it is an indictment on the police. It shows citizens are losing faith in the force.

Many times, the county askaris work alongside the police to harass innocent people. It is apparent that the former have become a law unto themselves, arresting hawkers, confining them in their own cells, imposing fines, confiscating and sometimes destroying wares.

Why those in authority have chosen to remain silent is not clear, but there is danger of the matter imploding if measures are not put in place to contain the situation. When county askaris confiscate fruits and other wares sold by hawkers, there is bound to be tension.

But as we castigate the law enforces turned law breakers, equally lawless traits among hawkers should be condemned as well.

Most hawkers do not observe the laws of decency and respect for other people. They spread their wares at every available space, not considering that they maybe blocking pathways, shop entrances and bus stages.

In Nairobi, for instance, there are places where pedestrians walk in single file to avoid trampling on items hawkers have spread all over the footpaths.

That unemployment is a serious problem cannot be gainsaid. What those in authority must come to terms with is that life must continue and those venturing into private business should be encouraged to shift from white-collar jobs hunting that our education system is geared towards to business in order to create more opportunities.

But this will not happen with the kind of confusion being witnessed in security enforcement. County governments need to work out modalities that will restore order while ensuring, in a humane way, that rules are adhered to.

In Nairobi, it would be prudent to create space for hawkers at designated places within the Central Business District.

It is also necessary to ensure that county askaris undergo training to keep them informed of the changes in society and the Constitution. They also need to learn how relate to hawkers in a more mature way.