Chief Officer for Environment for Nairobi, Geoffrey Mosiria, has condemned the brutal assault of four county enforcement officers who were attacked on Friday, October 24, while carrying out a lawful demolition exercise in the city.
According to a statement released by Mosiria, the officers were ambushed by a group of individuals after attempting to remove an illegal structure blocking a public road.
The confrontation turned violent, leaving four officers to seek medical care after sustaining serious head injuries.
“It is the highest level of impunity for anyone to attack officers of the Nairobi City County Government while they are lawfully discharging their duties,” Mosiria said.
“Earlier today, our officers who went to remove an illegal structure that was blocking a public road were violently attacked and beaten by mobilized goons behaving like criminals. As a result, four of our officers are currently being treated in hospital after sustaining serious head injuries.”
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The County Chief Officer condemned the act as barbaric and unacceptable, emphasizing that such attacks would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“Order and dignity cannot be compromised. Whenever we respond to complaints from members of the public, the same public must not turn against the very officers mandated to protect and serve them,” he said.
Mosiria further warned that assaulting county officers on duty is a grave offence, promising that all individuals who mobilized or participated in the attack would face the full force of the law.
“We will not allow a few lawless individuals to intimidate or harm officers who are working tirelessly to restore order and uphold the rule of law in our city. Our officers deserve respect, safety, and protection as they serve the people of Nairobi with dedication,” he stated.
A month ago, Mosiria had put street hawkers and lawless traders on notice after a viral video from Eastleigh showed a man being beaten unconscious by hawkers.
The incident, which occurred after the man requested the traders to clear the road for him to pass, drew widespread outrage and renewed debate over the growing impunity and lawlessness in Nairobi’s informal trade zones.
At the time, Mosiria decried the culture of violence and defiance of authority, terming it as ‘the height of impunity.’
“This young man, who was beaten as though he were a thief, had only requested the Jam Street hawkers to allow him to pass. Instead of letting him through, they attacked him until he ended up in the ICU,” Mosiria stated.
He warned that the county would intensify crackdowns on illegal hawking, unregulated dumping, and obstruction of public spaces to restore order in the capital.
