Reports reaching us have it that Kenyan novelist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, author of Dust, was attacked and arrested in Nairobi by the Nairobi County Inspectorate, infamously known as the “kanjo.”
According to Twitter user @zinduko, Ms. Owuor was standing outside Lavington Mall in Nairobi when the “kanjo” descended on local traders nearby. She didn’t run in the ensuing commotion as she didn’t know what was happening. The report says that when she began to ask what was happening, a man in plain clothes pushed her and became aggressive, and was joined by more men in plain clothes. Thinking she was being robbed by a gang, she fought back but was dragged off to their van at which point she realised it was the “kanjo.” Ms. Owuor was taken to City Hall and charged with “trading, dumping, assault, obstructing justice.” She has since been released on bail but will appear in the Magistrate’s Court at City Hall on Monday, 6 August, at 8 a.m.
In Nairobi, the “kanjo”—who are in charge of traffic, security, dealing with hawkers and street families—are reportedly infamous for their violence. Earlier this year, the Nairobi County Assembly demanded a reform of the group.
See the tweets by @zinduko below:
1. So Yvonne Owuor, author of #Dust was, clobbered & arrested yesterday for hawking, littering & resisting arrest by kanjo. @SakajaJohnson @EstherPassaris @MikeSonko this is your Nairobi?@WanjikuRevolt @bonifacemwangi @WanjeriNderu @Nanjala1 @samirasawlani @theelephantinfo
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
2. Yvonne was waiting outside Lavington Mall when kanjo descended on the informal traders located there. She didn’t run in the commotion as she had no ides what was going on. @njokingumi @ngeleali @katibainstitute @wmnjoya @thekhrc @HakiKNCHR @aleyakassam
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
3. In the commotion, as Yvonne Owuor began to ask what was happening someone pushed her & got aggressive with her asking why people were being beaten.. The man grabbed her, tearing her clothes. @scheafferoo @gathara @GodwinMurunga @kenyanpundit
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
4. Yvonne Owuor thought she was being attacked by a gang, especially when the man was joined by other people all in plain clothes. They grabbed her phone, knocked off her glasses. She was terrified. Thought she was being kidnapped. Fought for her life as they dragged her off.
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
5. Only when she got to the kanjo van did she realise it was kanjo who had grabbed her. To cut a long story short, she was taken to City Hall, charged with trading, dumping, assault, obstructing justice. @AmnestyKenya @theMagunga @DavidNdii @kimaniwanjogu @JerotichSeii
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
6. Yvonne Owuor was released on bail; everyone else arrested pleaded guilty, even the bystanders. She’s determined to stand for truth, no matter the cost, to amplify what’s going on when “kanjo” strikes. @EstherPassaris @SakajaJohnson @MikeSonko over to you. @IMLU_org@IPOA_KE
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
She’s in court on Monday 8am for a mention of her case. Haven’t talked to her about it so don’t know what her strategy is but I imagine the solidarity would be appreciated.
— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
Magistrate’s Court at City Hall.
Thank you.— Zinduko (@Zinduko) August 3, 2018
In the same way a government of thugs and illiterate goons terrorized Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, so does a county government, again filled and led by thugs, terrorize a renowned author and Caine Prize winner.
Tell me again how far we have come.
Pole sana Yvonne. pic.twitter.com/SEgEQGUwZA
— Sura Mbaya (@surambaya) August 3, 2018
What can we do? How can we help?
— Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1) August 3, 2018
it is about time kanjos meet the law. Lawyers on #KOT over to you
— Mohax (@Maandeqq) August 3, 2018
Members of Kenya’s intellectual communities are calling for solidarity with Yvonne Owuor. We hope that “this be used to amplify the brutality of the ‘kanjo’ system,” Zinduko told us on Twitter. “We would be very grateful for solidarity statements. Solidarity not just with Yvonne Owuor, but with all others who suffer from the brutal inhumanity with which the County officials operate.”
“It is disturbing and infuriating,” a Twitter user told us. “Yvonne is such a lovely lovely person. Maybe this will also shed light on the injustices visited on random people who get caught in such situations.”
Brittle Paper stands with Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor and calls for solidarity. The attention given this will put pressure on the “kanjo” system and aid calls for its reform.
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