Night workers operating in the Githurai 45 area, bordering Kiambu and Nairobi, announced an increase in service charges ranging between Sh50 and Sh100 effective December 6, 2023.
According to the night workers, the price hike is a result of increased demands for bribes from the police, soaring from Sh10 to Sh20 per night worker daily, alongside a rise in fees from the Mungiki gang, elevating their charges from Sh20 to Sh30. The police and Mungiki have been accused of consistently increasing their corrupt practices, justifying these increments by citing the rising cost of living.
Esther Kahiga, a representative of the night workers in the vicinity of the stone market, explained that the previously lower-end service of Sh150 had now surged to Sh200, while quick services that were initially Sh200 now stand at Sh300. Previously priced at a minimum of Sh1,000 for nighttime services, regular customers will now be required to pay at least Sh1,100.
However, those clients known for their generosity and willingness to pay higher amounts without considering the standard rates will continue to receive preferential treatment. Kahiga expressed bewilderment at the motives of both the police and Mungiki, questioning why they would make their work more difficult, especially given the financial struggles faced by their customers.
The night workers also remarked that while the Mungiki provided protection against abusive clients, the police in Kasarani extorted them for illicit payments. They claimed that female officers, posing as fellow night workers, engage in intelligence gathering to assess the bribe that will trickle down to their unit. Strangely, reports have surfaced of officers, initially undercover to monitor them, ultimately engaging in night work themselves after realizing the earnings surpass their government salary.
One night worker calculated potential daily earnings, highlighting the appeal to the police for illegal levies, while the Mungiki find a channel to profit as informal security officials for these workers. As a result, clients have been informed of the service charge increments, absolving the night workers of blame and directing scorn towards the police and Mungiki for these impositions.
By Newsmedia