Over 500 businessmen and women were left stranded after waking up to demolished kiosks at Mutindwa, Nairobi on Tuesday, August 25.
The kiosks were erected close to the railway line leading to their demolition as the government steps up its efforts to rehabilitate the metre gauge railway.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Douglas Okidi, a photojournalist present at the scene revealed more details as to why the demolitions were conducted.
"The businesses were demolished after they were told they are close to the railway line. They have been instructed to move 30 metres away from the railway line.
"Some of the businessmen and women claim they were handed a two-day notice, others claim they were not issued with any notice," he explained.
The traders claim that the demolitions started at around 11 pm on Monday, August 24 which is past curfew hours, leaving them no chance to salvage their goods.
The businessmen and women suspect that the demolitions were carried out by Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in conjunction with Kenya Railways.
The traders are now stranded with their future looking bleak, especially at a time when the economy has been dealt a blow by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Kenya Railways is targeting to serve up to 230,000 passengers a day with the expansion project of the Nairobi Commuter Rail network.
The cooperation is engaged in the construction of Commuter Stations at Kikuyu, Embakasi Village, Pipeline, Donholm, Dandora, Kahawa, Ruiru, Athi River, Githurai, and Mwiki.
Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga on Thursday, July 16, announced the Nairobi commuter trains imported from Spain were set to arrive into the country in August 2020.
