Nyahururu traders hold demos over demolition of kiosks

Business activities in Nyahururu town were disrupted on Saturday as traders engaged in running battles with the police after their business premises were allegedly destroyed by county officials.

The County had previously issued an eviction notice to the traders, embarking on demolitions on the expiration of the notice period.

Igwamiti Member of County Assembly (MCA) Joseph Kabachi led the traders in staging demonstrations, accusing the county government of evicting them so that they can give the land to a private developer.

The traders said that they had lost property worth thousands of shillings in the demolition; they demanded for full compensation.

They demanded for the immediate sacking of Laikipia West Sub County administrator Sammy Mwangi over what they termed as ‘inefficiency’.

According to Kabachi, the traders had been operating in the area for over ten years. He asked why the county decided to evict the traders, yet they had not been given an alternative location for their businesses.

Other business operators, led by Joseph Kamau Muchendu, demanded that the sub county administrator be moved accusing him of working without consulting residents as stipulated in the constitution.

“He has been the main stumbling block to development in the area and we demand for his removal. Where does he expect these people to get their money from?” posed Kabachi.

Efforts to get comments from the administrator were futile as his phone had been switched off.