Hundreds of traders along the Kisumu-Busia highway are counting huge losses following the demolition of their shops and stalls by the national government.
Officers from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Thursday, September 11, presided over the demolition of structures near the highway to clear the road for expansion.
Among the most affected sections of the road were shops and stalls located in Maseno town in Kisumu County and those in Luanda, Vihiga County.
During the demolition, a contingent of police officers was dispatched to oversee the operation and manage any attempts at retaliation by the aggrieved locals.
While lamenting the demolitions, the traders accused KeNHA officials of allegedly failing to notify them in advance.
According to a trader in Maseno, the last time KeNHA issued a notice on planned demolitions was in 2018, and since then, no other urgent notice has been issued.
As tensions escalated, a brief scuffle erupted between residents and the police after some of the affected traders attempted to stop the bulldozers from destroying their property.
The move comes amid the government's plan to expand the busy highway, which in recent years has experienced heavy traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, the development comes a month after KeNHA announced the commencement of rehabilitation works along the Kisumu-Busia highway following growing concerns over the poor state of the road.
In a statement on July 24, the Authority revealed that a maintenance contractor had already been hired to begin restoration works along the highway, which connects Kenya to neighbouring countries.
"The Authority has onboarded a maintenance contractor for the aforementioned road section who will be instructed on the level of the service expected and the type of maintenance to be done on the road," KeNHA noted.
KeNHA made the announcement after a Kenyan reached out to the Authority regarding several potholes along the route and poor maintenance of the highway.
