A viral video showing a child locked inside a Nairobi City County vehicle has sparked outrage, drawing attention to the actions of city officials during a hawker enforcement operation. The undated footage, reveals a disturbing scene involving a female hawker whose child is seen crying and screaming in distress while being confined inside a county vehicle on Tom Mboya Street. The incident has ignited widespread criticism of the Nairobi City Inspectorate, commonly known as the “kanjos,” over their treatment of street vendors and their families.
In the video, which begins after the hawker’s merchandise has already been confiscated, the child can be seen inside the vehicle alongside the vendor’s goods. Although it is unclear whether the kanjos placed the child in the vehicle, the scene shows the child crying out for her mother, adding an emotional dimension to the already tense situation. The female hawker, desperate and clearly distraught, can be heard screaming for the release of both her child and her stock.
As the scene escalates, a crowd of pedestrians gathers, visibly upset by the situation. The onlookers demand that the vehicle not be allowed to leave until the child is freed. The chaos prompts an argument between the hawker and a city official, whose identity remains unclear in the video. The official appears to suggest that the woman may have placed the child in the vehicle herself in an attempt to secure the release of her goods. The words “We ndiye umemweka (ndani ya gari)” (It’s you who put her in the car) can be heard from the official.
In the midst of the commotion, the child is eventually removed from the vehicle by one of the officers, although the emotional distress caused by the situation is evident.
The video has raised concerns about the practices of the Nairobi City County enforcement officers, particularly regarding their treatment of hawkers and their families. Many have questioned whether such actions are justified, with some arguing that the hawker’s child should never have been put in that position in the first place. Critics also emphasize that while hawking may be illegal in certain areas, the use of such drastic measures in handling vulnerable individuals—especially children—raises significant ethical questions.
As the debate continues, the viral video has shed light on the ongoing tensions between city authorities and street vendors, with calls for a more humane and fair approach to the enforcement of local laws.
