How did Ndagire Renora end up in Kenya? During the Nairobi City County Thanksgiving Service at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Sunday, November 26, Sakaja described Ndagire Renora as a smart boy. Sakaja disclosed that he had taken custody of the 14-year-old boy, adding that he would ensure he got the best education. “He is a smart man. I told him to believe in himself, that boy. I have taken him, and right now, he is mine because the ambassador had no plans. Currently, he is in my custody. I will make sure he gets an education and a future,” Sakaja said. However, the City Hall boss vowed to crack down on child trafficking in the county, which he said was rampant. “But as we are doing that, we are unearthing the entire cartel. In Kawangware, they are so many. Let us not support child trafficking. Child trafficking cannot be supported,” he warned. According to Sakaja, Renora was allegedly brought into the country by a child trafficking ring and forced into hawking. Renora’s story went viral after a video of city askaris who were on a clampdown against unlicensed hawkers, getting hold of him while hawking njugu karanga (groundnuts). The altercation resulted in the spilling of his merchandise, an incident that left a bad taste in the mouths of Kenyans. What PS Susan Mang’eni said about the incident Earlier, the principal secretary in the State Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Susan Mang’eni, sought an audience with the young hawker. In a statement on X, Mang’eni called upon Sakaja to protect micro and small enterprises from violent encounters. “Dear compatriots, I implore your assistance in locating this hustler whose endeavours and livelihood have been detrimentally impacted. Respected county government of Nairobi led by Governor Johnson Johnson, I earnestly urge for the formalization and integration of micro and small enterprises, coupled with the establishment of secure operational environments,” she said. She insisted that preserving and nurturing the enterprises was imperative, as their demise does not necessarily bring prosperity to the city.
by Amos Khaemba