Although the government is trying all means to support small and micro-business enterprises, some government officials are accused of doing the exact opposite by allegedly killing a mandazi-selling business run by Felisters Wangui Kariuki in Dakawou Village, Imara Daima Ward, Embakasi South Constituency.
Back in January 2023, Felisters (or Mama Mwangi as her friends call her) was preparing mandazi as usual in her kiosk, when the area Chief, Mr. Ndirangu, ordered his officers to demolish it, claiming that she was polluting the environment, and after allegedly demanding ten thousand shillings from her.
Mama Mwangi claims she tried to seek help from other government offices, including the Nairobi City Council through a Mr. Ogutu, the area District Officer, and Villa Police Station, where police officers allegedly demanded that she pay them two thousand shillings but ended up taking no action, terming the case a waste of time. All these government offices seem to have coordinated to frustrate and stop Mama Mwangi from running her business.
Sometime later, the Chief, Mr. Ndirangu is alleged to have sold her kiosk space to another person engaged in the business of selling miraa, thus raising the question of the motive behind the demolition of her business. Mama Mwangi has suffered considerably as she has children to feed and educate, yet her only means of earning a living has been destroyed.
If government institutions are mired in corruption, where can the vulnerable in the society, like Mama Mwangi, expect to get justice? How can small and micro-businesses be supported by a corrupted system?