By Ndubi Moturi
A Nairobi County Assembly committee has faulted the county government’s crackdown on book vendors operating within the Central Business District, accusing enforcement officers of carrying out discriminatory and arbitrary operations that violated traders’ constitutional rights.
A report by the Sectoral Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs chaired by Mugumo-ini MCA Jared Akama paints a damning picture of the county’s inspectorate operations, with traders accusing officers of harassment, extortion, intimidation and unlawful evictions despite possessing business permits and operating within designated areas.
“The lack of designated vending areas has forced the book vendors to constantly be in conflict with the enforcement officers, leading to bribery and extortion where the enforcement asks for bribes to return the confiscated items or allow the vendors to continue operating,” the report observed.
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