Kenyans have joined forces to provide financial assistance to Quinter Adhiambo Nyandega, a Nairobi smokie (sausage) vendor, whose trolley was destroyed during a crackdown by Nairobi County officers on food vendors in the Central Business District.

A fundraiser was initiated by Ndugu Nyoro, the founder of Affecto and a philanthropist. As of now, Quinter has received over half a million Kenyan shillings, in addition to a Ksh10,000 compensation from the county government.

"By this morning, Quinter had received Ksh495,000 from Kenyans. They are telling her it's not over yet," Nyoro stated.

"Quinter tells me she feels like it's all a dream. She can't even remember her bank account, which has remained dormant for years due to a lack of funds to save," he added.

Comedian and activist Eric Omondi, along with other well-wishers, also participated in the fundraiser to help Adhiambo rebuild her business.

"We managed to raise Ksh556,000 in three hours for Quinter after City Council disgracefully kicked and threw her stock to the ground. What the devil meant to break her, God has used to lift her. God wins," Omondi remarked.

In a media interview, Adhiambo explained that she has not yet decided how to utilize the substantial sum she received. She depends on her business to support her family, including paying school fees for her siblings.

One of her siblings has reached the university level, and another graduated from Kisii University in 2021. While waiting for formal employment, the graduate assists Adhiambo in selling eggs in Nairobi CBD.

On the day of the raid, Adhiambo was captured pleading with the Nairobi County askaris, often referred to as kanjos, to spare her stock and business.

"Look at what you have done, how will I pay for all this stock? They have broken my trolley, and everything is destroyed," she questioned through tears.

She was one of many vendors who found themselves in distress after the county employees destroyed their sources of livelihood.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who garnered attention after the raid, clarified that he had no prior knowledge of the operation. He criticized his employees for their treatment of the smokie vendors.

Sakaja offered each vendor Ksh10,000 as compensation but did not disclose whether disciplinary actions would be taken against the askaris.

Adhiambo confirmed that they had not been briefed on the way forward, including the reasons for the raid, and stated that county government officials did not provide an explanation during the operation.