Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has intervened to support a 14-year-old Burundian boy who faced harassment from county officers while hawking peanuts on the streets.
Videos capturing the boy’s distress after his peanuts were allegedly spilled by county officers went viral, sparking widespread sympathy and condemnation of the officers’ actions.
Governor Sakaja, addressing the situation on Wednesday, revealed that the boy had been trafficked to Kenya to work as a hawker. He disclosed ongoing discussions with the Burundian ambassador to facilitate the boy’s return to school.
The governor, however, refuted claims of harassment, asserting that officers were enforcing regulations regarding hawking hours.
“Unfortunately, when (he) was caught and the enforcement officer impounded his goods, the minor struggled for the bucket, spilling its contents on the ground after the handle broke,” he added.
In order to address the rise in child trafficking and illegal immigration, Mr. Sakaja said he would collaborate with the ministry of foreign affairs.
According to previous reports from the authorities, foreign nationals, including minors and individuals with disabilities, are smuggled into Kenya to work as hawkers or beggars.