Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria now says he has forgiven women hawkers who harassed and insulted him recently.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Mosiria says the group of women hawkers decided to harass him after he asked them to vacate the walkways and go to the backstreet, the designated areas for city hawkers.
“We must restore order in our city. I was recently insulted and harassed by a group of women simply because I asked them to do the right thing move to the designated backstreets meant for hawkers. Despite their actions, I have chosen to forgive them. It’s time we turn a new page and start respecting the law for the greater good of our city,” he stated.
According to the city official, being poor should never be used as an excuse to break the law.
“Let me be clear: being poor is not a license to break the law. Poverty should never be used as an excuse to violate public order, disrupt the peace, or damage the aesthetic beauty of Nairobi. If we allow this line of thinking that someone should be excused simply because they are struggling then where do we draw the line? Will we justify theft, violence, or destruction just because the person is poor?” he posed.
“In the same way, we cannot justify lawlessness in the streets just because hawkers are trying to earn a living. Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, a city of dignity and potential. We cannot achieve a clean, orderly, and beautiful city if our walkways are overcrowded, waste is dumped indiscriminately, and laws are ignored in the name of survival.”
Mosiria has also criticised Kenyans asking him to let the hawkers continue their businesses on the streets, despite clearly breaking the law by blocking pathways.
“Some are criticizing me for insisting on enforcement, saying I should “just let them be.” But leadership requires making difficult decisions that protect both the present and future of our city. I will not shy away from doing what is right. Nairobi belongs to all of us, and we must protect its image, its order, and its people rich or poor by upholding the law equally,” he added.
In a different statement on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Mosiria criticised hawkers who obstruct shop entrances and undercut licensed traders, saying such actions create an unfair business environment.
“To make matters worse, they often sell the exact same products as the shop owners, but at lower prices. This creates unfair competition and puts law-abiding business owners at risk of losing their livelihoods.”
Francis Muli
Francis Muli is a passionate digital journalist with over seven years of experience in crafting compelling stories across various platforms. His major focus is in business, politics and current affairs. He brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to uncovering the truth.
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