City askaris kick out beggars from CBD in dawn operation – PHOTOS
By HILARY KIMUYUNairobi County askaris swept beggars from the Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday in the wee hours of the morning.
County authorities are keen to make the city centre a ‘beggars-free zone’.
More than 30 beggars were netted in the operation and taken to Waithaka Rehabilitation Center in Dagoretti “for rehabilitation”, while those from neighbouring countries like Tanzania will be deported.
The operation is being carried out in conjunction with National Council for People with Disabilities.
Most beggars comprise of people with disabilities.
The crackdown comes hours after Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Education, Youth and Gender Janet Ouko acknowledged that the city has recently experienced an influx in number of beggars.
Facilitators of begging and those business people who use beggars to extort people will also be arrested and face charges of engaging in illegal activities.