Tensions ran high in Nairobi after an altercation between city residents and a county security reinforcement officer (Kanjo) turned physical.

The incident occurred around GPO when the officer reportedly destroyed a hawker’s bucket of sliced melons and pineapples, sparking outrage among onlookers.

According to witnesses, the hawker,referred to as mtu wa kujitafutia was selling fresh fruit when the county officer confronted him.

Instead of issuing a warning or confiscating the goods as per county regulations, the kanjo allegedly went to extreme measures, scattering and trampling the hawker’s fruit.

This act of destruction enraged passersby, who quickly took matters into their own hands.

In a rare show of unity, Nairobians surrounded the officer and subjected him to what some described as a “public disciplinary session.”

A few well-placed slaps and shoves were delivered before the officer bolted the hungry jaws of the angry crowd.

The incident highlights the long-standing tensions between Nairobi’s informal traders and county authorities.

Many hawkers have cried of constant harassment from kanjo askaris, who they accuse of using excessive force and treating them unfairly.

While county officials argue that street vending obstructs pedestrian movement and violates city by-laws, Kenyans believe there should be a more humane approach to enforcing regulations.

This latest confrontation adds to the growing debate on how best to balance city order with economic survival, especially for small scale traders struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy.