Hundreds of traders in Kakamega County are grappling with losses after the national government, on Tuesday, July 29, began a large-scale demolition of structures that housed their businesses.
The demolitions primarily targeted structures at Khayega market in Shinyalu Constituency to clear the road reserve for the ongoing expansion of the Kisumu-Kakamega highway.
Reports indicate that the traders had been notified about the planned demolitions, but did not heed the vacation notice, forcing the authorities to bring down the structures.
While lamenting the demolitions, the angry residents noted that the incident immensely affected their lives since they mainly depended on the businesses to cater for their daily needs.
They also faulted President William Ruto's administration for allegedly going against its initial promise of empowering the less privileged through the Bottom Up Economic Agenda.
Some of them accused the Kakamega County Government of heavy-handed tactics, claiming that the demolitions were executed without adequate consultation.
"I have been making a living through hiring out the structures, but now they have been demolished. I do not know where I will get food and school fees for my grandchildren," said one of the residents.
"Now I want to ask, when Ruto's government came into power, they said they would help the Mama Mboga and boda boda people, is this the way they promised to handle us?" questioned the resident.
During the occurrence, a brief scuffle erupted between the residents and the police after some of the traders attempted to stop the bulldozer from dismantling their structures.
In the ensuing melee, some locals sustained minor injuries, with a section of the residents accusing the police officers of using overwhelming force to evict them.
County officials who spoke to the press revealed that the evictions were necessary to allow adequate space for the expansion of the road, which acts as a major link between Kakamega and other counties.
The expansion of the route forms part of the broader plan by the government's move to address the growing urbanisation and traffic congestion in the county.
