Sonko threatens to quit over county askaris’ brutality
By HILARY KIMUYU
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has given the Government a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest and prosecute rogue Nairobi County askari, or else he will resign.
“I have given the concerned authorities a 24-hr notice to arrest the culprit’s failure to which I will be left with no alternative but to tender my resignation to the Senate Speaker,” Sonko wrote on his Facebook page.
The Nairobi Senator said that he cannot sit back and watch innocent Kenyans being intimidated, harassed and murdered by the said askaris.
Sonko claimed that in the past 12 months, 19 hawkers have lost their lives, and went ahead to name a few adding that he will name the rest after he gets their postmortem reports.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), I was assured by the DPP Keriako Tobiko that action will be taken. The Director of CID Mr Muhoro Ndegwa also confirmed the same position to me,” he added.
BEATEN AND KILLED
He gave a shocking revelation of a female hawker who was arrested, raped and bottles inserted into her private parts and on December 31, 2015.
He also cited the case of a hawker by the name Kazee who was arrested by the askaris, beaten and killed after being run over by a county van (registration number KAW 696Z).
“Sadly again this was done by askari’s who are well known and have been positively identified yet no action has been taken as they continue harassing innocent hawkers bragging that they are untouchable,” Sonko said.
“This is not about playing politics or seeking sympathy from the electorate, but my conscience cannot allow me to continue earning salaries and allowances as the people whose interest I am supposed to protect are murdered in cold blood,” he added.
The senator urged Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to ensure that corrupt officers at City Hall are sacked.
“It is high time the Nairobi City County Assembly make laws that will help in the regulation and protection of hawker’s activities and interests. Such brutality can only stop if we stop corruption and I undertake not to leave any stone unturned in this war,” he concluded.