Rogue and brutal county enforcement officers—commonly known as askaris—could soon face stiff penalties if Parliament enacts proposed legislation aimed at curbing their excessive use of force and abuse of power.
Senators are considering a law to regulate the conduct of county enforcement officers and prescribe punishments for those who operate with impunity.
The move follows growing public outrage over reports of harassment and violence—particularly against traders and hawkers in urban areas.
The legislative effort was triggered by Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogola, who sought a statement in the Senate regarding the conduct and professional standards of the askaris.
“While county enforcement units are central to implementing devolved laws, frequent complaints have emerged about the heavy-handed treatment of informal traders and members of the public,” Ogola said.
Her concerns have since been referred to the Senate’s Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, which is now tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks and drafting legislation to hold officers accountable.
Ogola emphasised the need for a national framework to guide the recruitment, training and deployment of county askaris.
She called on the committee to determine whether the Kenya School of Government has established standard training modules for enforcement officers.
The panel, chaired by Wajir Senator Abass Sheikh, will also develop legislative measures to ensure county enforcement practices uphold human dignity, protect informal livelihoods and prevent abuse of power.
The urgency of reform is underscored by alarming testimonies from hawkers who say they have been abused by county askaris—especially in Nairobi.
Currently, there is no national law that regulates the conduct of the inspectorate officers. Instead, each county has domiciled its own laws.
In a recent appearance before the Nairobi County Assembly, a female trader identified as Wanjiru recounted a harrowing ordeal involving sexual harassment, violence and extortion by inspectorate officers, locally referred to as kanjos.
“I have experienced it personally. My colleagues have also been told to sleep with these officers in exchange for freedom to hawk,” she told MCAs.
Wanjiru accused a specific officer, known by the street name “Brown”, of leading a group that targets female hawkers for sexual exploitation.
“They don’t woo us or make advances. They simply expect us to comply,” she said.
She described a violent incident in March after she turned down their demands. “They came back, confiscated my goods, assaulted me and dragged me along the ground. Their leader called me a prostitute and said I would never sell there again.”
She displayed back injuries from the attack, which later required her to wear a spinal belt and undergo medical treatment.
The harassment intensified after she threatened to expose them. “There was a brief lull, then an even more brutal assault followed. Despite the pain, I have no choice but to keep speaking out,” she said.
“I can’t take my children to school. I have bills to pay and I’m surviving on loans from friends. I just want justice—and my items returned.”
Another hawker, Hellen, confirmed that such abuse is widespread. “This is nothing new. You either pay a weekly bribe or sleep with one of them,” she said, withholding her full name for fear of retaliation.
These revelations come nearly five months after Governor Johnson Sakaja reshuffled Nairobi’s Inspectorate Department.
Former Chief Officer for Security and Compliance, Tony Kimani, was reassigned to the Customer Care docket, while Eva Wangechi Wairiuko took over as Acting Chief Officer.
Despite being summoned, both Wairiuko and the Director of City Inspectorate, Benjamin Omondi, failed to appear before the County Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
Mugumo-ini MCA Jared Akama, who chairs the committee, confirmed that investigations are underway following Wanjiru’s complaint.
Nairobi CBD MCA Mwaniki Kwenya also submitted a petition detailing similar misconduct by inspectorate officers and called for the suspension of the department’s leadership.
“I have also been harassed by officers while trying to protect hawkers,” Kwenya said. “We will take action. The heads of the Inspectorate department will be summoned next week to answer to these serious allegations,” Akama added.
Reports of county askaris brutality are not unique to Nairobi. Similar cases have been reported in Uasin Gishu, Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru, painting a troubling national picture that has prompted calls for swift, comprehensive legislative intervention.
If passed, the proposed law could mark a significant step forward in protecting informal workers, restoring public trust and professionalising county enforcement units across the country.
