The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) is set to commence a major crackdown on all illegal car washes operating in the city. – By John Mutiso.
The NMS boss Mohammed Badi speaking on Spice Fm on Monday, January 25, said that some of the businesses had become a menace, to the point of infiltrating high end estates like Muthaiga, Lavingtone and Runda.
He also blamed politicians for being behind the growing menace, accusing various Nairobi County MCAs of being behind the business.
Badi noted that he knew the move would face resistance because the businesses have licenses, but claimed the licenses were given by politicians to the youth as payment for voting for them.
“Car washes are too many even in posh areas like Muthaiga, Lavington and Karen, which should not be the case. Most of these were licensed by MCAs. It is something political; a kind of payment to boys who probably voted for them. These politicians control the county assembly; they develop the by-laws which allow such businesses to operate illegally,” added Badi.
Badi however, stated that the move was not a transfer of function from the county government.
He noted that it was still in the hands of the county government and the job of NMS was to ensure that the enforcement strictly followed the rules.
He insisted that he was working with the county assembly to reduce the fast-expanding and uncontrolled businesses.
The move comes at a time when the country is engaged in a heated debate on the role of small and medium businesses dubbed the ‘hustlers’, with an accompanying political narrative amplified by Deputy President William Ruto.
