A political firestorm has erupted after outspoken Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, accusing his administration of ignoring rampant sexual harassment claims targeting female traders in the capital. Cherargei expressed his anger during a press briefing and also raised the matter during a Senate session, describing the reported abuses as a disgrace to Nairobi and an insult to hardworking women trying to make an honest living.
He demanded immediate action from the county government, saying that the concerns raised by grassroots women have been repeatedly ignored. According to Cherargei, many women working in Nairobi’s markets, including Gikomba and Muthurwa, are being sexually harassed by rogue county askaris and some corrupt market officials.
He claimed that these women are being groped, harassed, and threatened regularly as they go about their businesses. In his words, “Governor Sakaja must stop the PR tours and face the rot festering in his markets. This is not a county of slogans, it’s a county of suffering.”
These powerful remarks reflect the growing frustration among traders who say they have nowhere to turn when they are mistreated.The senator’s comments have come at a time when disturbing videos and testimonies from women in different Nairobi markets have gone viral on social media.
In these testimonies, women speak of constant harassment, being forced to bribe county officials, and receiving threats if they dare speak out. Some have reportedly stopped working altogether due to the unbearable treatment. Others say the harassment has been happening for years, but no one in power has taken them seriously.
While Governor Sakaja’s office has promised an internal review and said they will not tolerate misconduct, many people are not convinced. Critics argue that such statements have been made before, yet no serious action was ever taken.
The governor has been known for his public relations campaigns and events across the city, but many now accuse him of turning a blind eye to real problems affecting the ordinary people, especially women. For many, this is a test of whether he truly cares for the people who trusted him with power.
Senator Cherargei’s bold move has won him support from women’s rights groups and several other lawmakers. These groups are now calling for a special Senate inquiry into the matter, saying it is no longer just about harassment but about the failure of leadership in protecting citizens. The focus is now on Sakaja’s response.
