Mkokoteni operators in Kikuyu Sub-County have decried harassment from people they say are posing as police officers in the area.
They want the county commissioner to intervene saying that the situation is causing them distress and affecting their business. The cart pullers say the individuals have been threatening to impound their carts if they fail to give them money.
Francis Munene claims he has been forced to give over Sh200 in the past one week by people he says were police officers.
“The kikuyu county commissioner should intervene and ascertain the identity of these people,” he said.
Munene added that the cart pullers have now threatened to hold demonstrations and paralyse business in the town if their grievances are not addressed.
He said that they have reported the matter to the area OCPD but no action has yet been taken.
Kamau wa Njoroge, another cart puller said that he was once beaten up and forced to lie down on a muddy roadside after failing to raise the amount demanded of him.
“We are not going to seat back and watch our businesses go down, this the only way to survive,” said Njoroge.
Reacting to the allegations, area OCPD Mutune Maweu said his office has not received such complaints. He however said that investigations into the claims will be launched.
He urged the cart pullers to demand identification cards from anyone claiming to be a law enforcer warning that impersonating a police officer is a serious crime.