Njoro member of Parliament Charity Kathambi on Monday appealed to President William Ruto to step in and stop the intended demolition of businesses along highways in the constituency.
Speaking to a congregation as part of a delegation of Ruto's caravan in the area, the lawmaker, who belongs to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party led by the Head of State, noted that she was concerned with an exercise to expand the roads by Kenya National Highways Authority.
Kathambi revealed that the first beacons signifying road reserve land were erected in 2018 leading to the demolition of several structures used by traders in the area.
Lately, however, she lamented that KeNHA could be eying further expansion thereby affecting thousands of her constituents.
"It is wrong for KeNHA to come and expand the road from point A to point B to point C. Right now, businesses owned by many people around here are going to be affected by KeNHA," she explained.
"Your Excellency, as an MP in 2018, KeNHA came and erected beacons and people moved their businesses. Why are they back to cause the suffering?"
"I have talked to the Director General and the Principal Secretary and they should make sure the beacons they erected in 2018 are still in place," Kathambi added.
She further asked the Head of State to set aside funding for road construction after noticing that a contractor had abandoned a site.
Ruto, who was in attendance, vowed to follow through with Kathambi's request promising to direct KeNHA officials to handle the matter in a week's time.
"On the issue of KeNHA, I will ask them to come and make proper measurements and not disrupt people's businesses and it will take place next week," he explained.
In 2018, KeNHA demolished 40 structures that included shops and residential houses that stood along the Njoro-Elburgon Highway.
Some of the traders at the time lamented that they were selling their wares when the demolitions kicked off.
One trader lost goods worth Ksh1.5 million at the time. Other demolitions also took place along Nakuru-Kabarak Road.
