Senator Sonko is a generous, peace-loving politician—Eastleigh youth leaders

Abdikarim Hassan addressing youths in Eastleigh. (Kulan Post)

NAIROBI—Eastleigh youth leaders have come out strongly in defense of the Nairobi senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko following claims that he instigated the hawkers last week when he led a rally in the area.

Addressing youths in Eastleigh, Abdikarim Hassan termed the Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful as a generous and peace-loving politician, saying the senator urged the hawkers to start operating in the First Avenue following court order.

“Sonko was on spot when he called on the hawkers to return to the streets and operate. As an elected leader, he was upholding the court order,” Abdikarim said.

The youth leaders were reacting to a statement by the Eastleigh Business District Association Chairman Ibrahim Hussein who accused the senator of being behind the chaos during a press conference on Thursday.

Ibrahim said the chaos witnessed in the last three days was instigated by Nairobi county politician who urged the hawkers to return. He was referring to Mike Sonko, the Nairobi senator who held a rally in Eastleigh on Monday where he supported the court order and told the hawkers to return “and feed their children, again.”

“How can you just evict a person who has nowhere else to do business at?” Senator Sonko asked.

In August, the 45 shopping malls in Eastleigh have called for a three-day shutdown citing frustration by hawkers. The impasse was later solved by the president and City Hall which called for a total ban of hawking on the streets.

Ibrahim Hussein said the businessmen in the area invested at least Sh100 billion but decried interference by hawkers who he said blocked entry and exits of the malls.

He said Eastleigh contributes 35 percent of City Hall revenue to the tune of sh 1 billion, adding traders expected to be covered and their welfare taken cared of.

Ibrahim said the business community was not against hawkers.

“We have no problem with hawkers; we are only appealing to have them relocated,” he said.