During the one-year anniversary of the Hustler Fund introduced by Kenya Kwanza Government at the Green Park Railways in Nairobi on November 30, 2023, the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asked Nairobi governor, Johnson Sakaja to respect hawkers selling at the Central Business District (CBD).

The second in command urged all leaders to love the hustlers the way they did when they wanted their votes.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask our leaders across all the countries across Kenya, including here in the city- these hustlers are very important people, and they should be given the space and time to eke a living and provide for their children. When these hustlers turn to the streets, they have no issue with anyone. They sell their wares and then go home. And I’m asking all leaders, those of us who were voted in, to love these hustlers the way we did while they were lining up to vote for us. The sight of these hustlers should not irritate anybody,” the deputy President stated.

He further said that the leaders should not be push overs of the wealthy people towards oppressing these small retailers.

“And we want to urge our county governments not to be pushed by other wealthy people to harass these hustlers. Those rich people already own property, and they didn’t want us to form the government. These hustlers are the ones who stood with us. And so, we are asking all counties’ leaders to cooperate with us at the national government in respecting, loving and helping the hustler nation which is responsible for us being in the positions we occupy today,” Gachagua added.

These came shortly after Nairobi County Government law enforcement officials, popularly known as Kanjos were captured demolishing hawkers’ stands at the bus station located in the central business district behind Afya Center.