In a tense and chaotic raid, Kiambu County askaris, locally known as “kanjus,” stormed the bustling Kiganjo Estate, seizing goods and cash from traders in an aggressive crackdown on unpaid county levies. Supported by armed police officers, the county officials allegedly targeted small traders and confiscated items without prior inventory, sparking outrage in the local business community.
One of the hardest-hit victims was an MPESA agent, who reported losing Ksh 200,000 in cash during the raid. Many other traders faced similar fates, with merchandise removed under claims of levy evasion. Those who resisted were reportedly met with violence, leaving several injured. Some traders who attempted to document the event had their mobile phones confiscated, with videos and photos deleted by the askaris.
Everlyne Wanjiku, a clothes vendor, recounted the abrupt and invasive nature of the raid, describing how county officers entered her shop and seized display mannequins worth over Ksh 150,000. “This was daylight robbery,” she said in disbelief. “They took our items without even logging an inventory. We were just trying to make a living.” Many traders echoed her sentiment, describing the incident as aggressive and traumatizing.
George Njenga, a community leader among Kiganjo’s business owners, voiced his anger, warning that traders would no longer tolerate such hostile tactics from the county government. “We will not sit back and let our livelihoods be destroyed,” he stated, cautioning against further raids and calling the operation nothing short of “robbery.”
Jennifer Ruguru, another businesswoman, expressed her frustrations with the high levies imposed on small businesses, saying that the costs were unsustainable for many. “We’ve been trying to engage with the authorities for a fair solution, but they haven’t listened to us,” she said. “Now they come in and take everything, without a second thought.”
Traders who tried to report the incident to the Kiganjo police post were reportedly turned away, fueling feelings of abandonment and helplessness. The raid follows previous protests by the Kiganjo business community, who have repeatedly called out county officials for alleged harassment.
The Kiganjo business community is now appealing to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, urging him to intervene and prevent further escalation. They demand the return of their confiscated goods and an end to what they describe as “daylight robbery” under the guise of levy collection.
