A gang of former county askaris working in cahoots with rogue serving askaris have devised ways of extorting money from city residents by fabricating charges.
Victims who don’t play ball are handed over to genuine askaris and hauled to the City Court with trumped up charges that attract hefty penalties.
They target vulnerable Nairobians resting in parks, strolling along quiet streets and at car parks. They also work at night and their trumped charges range from littering, jaywalking to hugging, which they say is public nuisance.
City Hall has admitted that these impostors have partially taken control of city operations. They have already profiled a gang of eight, seven of whom are former Inspectorate officers.
City Hall shared pictures of some of their former staff who still operate as county askaris in Nairobi and who have been arrested.
County Chief Officer for Security and Compliance Stanley Kilonzo confirmed to The Nairobian that indeed some ex-employees still operate as county askaris illegally.
A victim who alerted the governor’s office says he was hugging his girlfriend at Uhuru Park when one Duncan Otieno Ohore who identified him as a city askari arrested them. He accused them of causing public nuisance.
He had to part with Sh2,000 which was sent via M-Pesa. Kilonzo who admits receiving the complaint, said Ohore is an impersonator and has never been employed by Nairobi City County Government or the predecessor’s regime.
Governor Mike Sonko says he has marshalled operations to apprehend them. “The suspect Duncan Otieno Ohore is still at large, but officers including the Flying Squad are pursuing the suspect and two others who are yet to be identified,” Sonko said.
