This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
On August 26, 2019, a five-year-old boy, Baby Nathan, was hit and left for dead by a boda boda rider in Kasarani. The incident occurred along Mradi road, where hawkers have encroached on the roads, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk safely.
According to eyewitnesses, the boda boda rider and his two passengers took off, leaving the injured boy in a pool of blood. The scene was witnessed by Nairobi News, which visited the area and found that road encroachment has become a common occurrence in Kasarani.
Residents have been complaining about the issue for months, but nothing has been done to address it. Nairobi County roads CEC Hitan Majevdia acknowledged the problem, stating that his office is aware of the road encroachment by traders in Kasarani.
“The complaint has reached our office, but I have not yet visited the site. I’m planning to visit next week or the week after. However, my department does not remove hawkers; that is done by reinforcement and security guys,” Majevdia told Nairobi News.
As the county government of Nairobi waits to act, there is a high risk that many more children, like Baby Nathan, may end up injured or killed in similar accidents in this area.
