Kenyans have come together to raise funds for a disabled who was harassed by Nairobi County officers.
In a video circulating on Saturday, Mary Otieno could be seen lying on the ground as county Askaris manhandled her at the Nairobi Central Business District(CBD).
In the video, items that were being sold by Otieno had spewed on the road as the crowd of people milled near her sympathising with her situation.
Otieno could be seen on the ground being dragged by the Kanjos while some packed her things in a sack.
It is reported that the woman's stock for the day was destroyed, a development that saw many Kenyans angered.
After the video went viral, Kenyan Comedian Eric Omondi looked for her and appealed to Kenyans to raise money to support her life.
"This is a disabled mother of five. She has been hawking for 20 years. County askaris not only harassed her but destroyed her items. If you know her please send me her contact. Wakiangusha tunainua. I am looking for her urgently," Eric Omondi said.
The following day the comedian shared that he had managed to locate the mother of six in her Mathare home.
Eric then called on Kenyans to channel their contributions to her mobile number to change Otieno's life.
"I found mama Mary hapa Mathare. She is a single mother of six children, one adopted and they live in a single room together. We are going to change her life. We are going live from 8pm tonight. Anzeni kutuma Mpesa to her number," he said.
On Monday morning, Eric announced that Kenyans had contributed Sh817,000.
He however told well-wishers who were still willing to channel their contributions to do so.
"We did it guys. We changed her life. Thank you to everyone who sent anything. God bless you. We are at Sh817k, tufikishe mitaa. For those who still want to send, do it through her number," he said.
The issue came after the public had accused the county government of operating with impunity as it was also the same week that smokie vendors were harassed by kanjos.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja went ahead and apologized to smokie vendors for the incident and condemned the officers for the action.
"I have ordered the immediate release of all confiscated items, apologized to the traders, and personally compensated each of them to the tune of 10,000 shillings each," the governor said in a statement.
