Residents of Shabab area in Koinange have raised a red flag over people posing as public health officers and food inspectors.
The residents claim that the group of men often approach sellers and leave with their goods, while purporting to be from the Ministry of Health.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday morning, the irate residents said that they were now losing their goods to this unscrupulous people.
“They came and ordered me to give them all my fruits and made away with a whole wheelbarrow,” said Risper Njeri.
She noted that they did not have any identification to indicate they were from the office.
“Why would they not arrest and charge us before the court of law? They only confiscate our items? It is not fair,” she said.
Paul Mungai, a food vendor, added that people were taking advantage of the food ban to solicit for bribes from the traders.
“They demand cash and threaten to arrest us in case we do not give them any money. For the last one week, they have been coming to my stall demanding for money,” he cited
They now want the health officers to carry out identification before making any arrests.
“We want to know who is genuine and who is not. We are calling on the police to investigate the officers too,” said Joyce Nyaboke, a green grocer operator.
Nakuru county Public health officer Samuel Kingori called for the residents to provide such information to them.
“We are appealing to them to make a formal report. It is the only way that we can be able to follow up on such claims,” he added.