Governor Johnson Sakaja met with Ndagire Renova, a 14-year-old Burundian street vendor who made headlines after a video showed him in tears after city council officials spilled his groundnuts on the ground.
Sakaja said in a statement on X that the incident was tragic but that he has contacted Burundi's Ambassador to Kenya, Ntahonkuriye Emmernece, to ensure that the youngster, who claims he arrived to Kenya illegally, is properly assisted.
"After investigating the unfortunate incident involving Burundian minor Ndagire Renova whose items were spilt yesterday, I met him and later engaged Burundian Ambassador to Kenya to discuss safeguarding the minor," Sakaja stated in a press release.
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After investigating the unfortunate incident involving Burundian minor Ndagire Renova whose items were spilt yesterday, I met him and later engaged Burundian Ambassador to Kenya to discuss safeguarding the minor as well as dealing with the child trafficking/hawking & beggar… pic.twitter.com/qoFNKMkYpS
— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) November 22, 2023
In a subsequent statement to newsrooms, Nairobi County and Head of Public Service Patrick Analo shared Sakaja's sentiments while also noting that city county officials were acting on official orders reached following a consensus between Governor Sakaja and CBD hawker leadership.
"Earlier in the month, the Governor had brought together the leadership of hawkers, traders, and enforcement officers, where an agreement was reached on the streets where hawkers are allowed to operate from 4pm in the CBD," said the governor.
“This has been largely complied with to the joy of pedestrians, shop owners and the hawkers themselves. Unfortunately, when Ndagire was caught and the enforcement officer impounded his goods, the minor struggled for the bucket spilling its contents on to the ground after the handle broke.”
