Arati moves to tame Kisii ‘Green Army’ over goonism concerns
Arati in Kisii Town
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has banned night-time street sweeping in Kisii town following growing security concerns after traders and residents were allegedly assaulted and robbed in the Getembe and Nubi areas on Friday night.
Arati issued the directive on Saturday during a visit to Nubi, where traders said they were attacked and forced to flee their businesses as tension gripped the area.
“From now on, we shall have no further night sweeping. Much of the cleaning work can be done during daytime,” Arati said.
The directive comes amid mounting complaints from political leaders, traders and residents over alleged goonism in parts of Kisii County, placing increased scrutiny on the county government’s Green Army programme.
Friday night’s incidents have intensified concerns among traders, some of whom linked the alleged attacks to individuals they identified as Green Army staff.
A church elder returning from a funeral was reportedly injured during an attempted robbery, while traders said they were forced to close their businesses and flee for safety.
“We are supposed to work and do business without fear. What happened on Friday night was frightening. We are calling on the authorities to investigate and ensure that nobody uses the county government’s name to terrorise traders,” said trader Asha Fatima.
She said the incidents had heightened fears among business people who operate late into the night.
“People are now afraid to remain in their shops after dark. We want security, not intimidation. If anyone committed a crime, let the police investigate and take action,” she said.
Under the new directive, county street-cleaning operations will be restricted to daytime, allowing sanitation workers to operate with greater public visibility while making their activities easier to monitor by county officials and security agencies.
The Green Army was established by the county government as part of efforts to improve cleanliness, environmental management and maintenance of public spaces.
However, the programme has faced growing criticism following allegations of harassment, assault and intimidation involving some of its members.
A video circulating on social media has also triggered public concern over the alleged mistreatment of members of the public by individuals identified as Green Army members.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has separately sought a statement from Parliament on the conduct of the county’s Green Army enforcement officers, adding pressure on the administration to address concerns surrounding the programme.
Arati has previously defended the Green Army, praising its contribution to keeping Kisii town clean. In March, while presiding over the launch of county road machinery, he commended the workers for their role in maintaining public spaces.
Residents have now called for a thorough investigation into the Friday night incidents and for anyone found culpable to face due process.
“We need clean streets, but we also need safe streets. Nobody should be beaten, robbed or harassed in the name of cleaning the town,” said a trader who requested anonymity.
The decision to end night sweeping is expected to ease tensions and restore public confidence in the county’s sanitation programme while addressing growing security concerns in Kisii town.