When you move around the city, they are everywhere. Dotted at all corners of the town posing as street urchins and beggars; although in the real sense they are not needy at all. They will always stretch out their hands so that you can give them something when you're passing near them. If you fail to do so, they will go ahead and abuse you for not helping them; as if giving in to their requests, is compulsory.

Our journey to expose fake beggars began at ABC Place along Waiyaki Way. When you approach the busy shopping center, you will come across a healthy man in a wheelchair seated under an umbrella come rain or sunshine. Unlike town beggars who stretch out their hands for anyone passing near them, this man only targets motorists.

I had heard a lot of stories about him from different people; on how he pretends to be suffering yet he is actually rather rich. One day at around 1 pm I left for ABC to find out whether the accusations were true. As I approached his territory, I removed my phone and pretended to be taking selfies; although in the real sense I was taking pics of him. While I was still doing that, a middle-aged man (said to be his confidant) came over and sat next to him, had a chat with him then left. But I managed to take several shots of both of them.

Just to ensure that he didn't become suspicious, I went straight to the shopping center to window shop and buy some time. After several minutes, I went back to the entrance where the man was seated and started to chat with him. I introduced myself as Annah and the man, whose real name I cannot verify; identified himself as Jackson from Western Kenya.

Me: Hi, how was your day.

Jackson: The day so far has been good.

Maybe, to mean that "business" was good, but I did not want to go into details. I pretended to have a 4-year-old son who was born disabled; and who has never walked despite having spent thousands in hospital seeking treatment.

Me: I am a cleaner at one of the biggest banks in Westlands and my 4-year-old son has never walked since he was born and would like to visit APDK (I said pointing towards the APDK headquarters opposite his "workstation").

Jackson: Eeh...Hapo hakuna vitu za bure, you will have to pay. Even for a wheelchair.

Me: How much did they sell you the wheelchair?

Jackson: Hii yangu si ya Kenya, nililetewa kutoka Ng'ambo na rafiki yangu mzungu (which translates to: My wheelchair is not Kenyan made. A white man bought it for me from abroad)

I was amazed and was now starting to believe the stories I had heard about him receiving lots of money from sympathetic mzungus.

Me: And if I may ask, how do you make it to here everyday because anytime I use Waiyaki Way I always see you around?

Jackson: Annah, mimi niko na gari. Inanileta hapa asubuhi na kunirudisha nyumbani jioni. I park it there (he said pointing at APDK). The parking fee is only 100 bob per day.

I was shocked. A beggar has a car yet some of us don't own even a bicycle. How much does he collect per day? Does he have a family? If yes, do they allow him to do this? These were some of the questions that were going through my mind.

Me: For how long have you been here?

Jackson: I have been in Nairobi for 13 years. I stay in Uthiru.

I was not sure if he meant he has been at his "workstation" for 13 years or if he meant the city generally. My conversation with Jackson came to an end as I did not want him to suspect that I was a journalist.

Just like the rest of the stories I had heard about Jackson I was not surprised. A very reliable source told me that he is rich; that he owns posho mills back in western Kenya, that he has a car amongst other businesses that bring him cash on a daily basis. And according to an eyewitness who works in one of the shops at ABC place, Jackson collects a lot of cash from people every day. Most shoppers, particularly mzungus he says, feel sorry for him because he is in a wheelchair. And apparently, whenever you visit ABC Place, and you don't find him, then he's probably in the bank, stowing away his "earnings" for that day.

But why would the Kenya board for people living with disability allow Jackson to continue doing this to the public yet he has more than enough? Is this not stealing from the public?

Well, let's judge not as the Bible says. Below are photos of Jackson at his workstation. Go through them and let us know if you are one of the people his innocent look has duped; because I am one of those people who believe that if you own a car, you should not be begging on the streets.

Government's efforts to reduce the number of beggars and street families from the CBD have fallen on deaf ears as they will always come back. Do you think the government should tolerate people like Jackson?