Tuesday saw confrontations between police officers raiding a wholesale store in Eastleigh, Nairobi, and local traders who claimed to be stocking illegal milk powder.
Trade stopped for over three hours, disrupting transport and causing traders and police to engage in running battles along Eastleigh Fourth Street, the operation's location.
One person who was allegedly involved in the local drug trade was apprehended by detectives from the DCI headquarters, who were in charge of the multi-agency operation.
When the police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, they threw stones at two police vehicles that belonged to the multi-agency team.
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The traders claim they are involved in selling illegal milk powder, and they have accused DCI detectives who were a part of the multi-agency team of targeting their legitimate business.
"Tunaomba hao idara wapitie sheria wakuje na documents; saa hizi hakuna documents wanatuonyesha wanaingia wanavunja mastore na hakuna stakabadhi zozote wako nazo," continued Omar Ahmed, the Eastleigh Business Community Secretary. mkono yao kwa nguvu wanavunja na wenye hawako vitu zinachukuliwa.
The traders claim that DCI officers performed a similar operation last month, removing millions of dollars worth of milk powder without providing the impacted trader with an inventory. Local authorities now want the head of state to step in.
"Tarehe sita Januari hizi mizigo zote walichukua hakuna inventory waliachia wenye mali, zinaenda na hawataki kusema walipeleka wapi hatujui ni hasara za mamilioni na sheria inasema polisi akichukua mzigo yako anafaa kukuambia,” Ismaily stated.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan on his part said, “Kama serikali imepiga marufuku maziwa ya powder ituambie, iwaambie hawa wafanyibiashara maziwa ya powder aina hiyo ni haramu ili wafanyibiashara wasiende hasara, maziwa iliyochukuliwa ni vya humu nchini kwa nini wasisimamishe kwa kampuni na kwa mipaka? Kwa nini mnachukua hatua hizi za kuwanyanyasa wafanyibiasha hawa wa Eastleigh?”
During the raid, the multi-agency team took an undetermined number of cartons suspected of containing the illegal milk powder and arrested one person.
Police have justified the operation, claiming it was legal and that they took action after learning that the trader was purportedly engaged in the local sale of illegal goods.
On Wednesday, the suspect is anticipated to be charged.
