Viral Chips Vendor's Emotional Message to Govt Over Eviction Plans

Bevalyn Kwamboka, a student who runs an informal business in Nairobi's Donholm area.
Bevalyn Kwamboka, a student who runs an informal business in Nairobi's Donholm area.
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Internet sensation Bevalyn Kwamboka, a roadside chips vendor, has sent an emotional message to the government over plans to evict her from where she runs her business.

During an interview with a local TV station on Friday, October 8, Kwamboka sent a poignant message deep from her heart appealing to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) not to evict her.

She sentimentally narrated that the chips mwitu business is her only means for survival and even supporting her family. She hysterically claimed that the business was started during the pandemic period when her sister with a small kid and their breadwinner had no other source of income. So they started the business at the roadside with only Ksh1,000 and an additional loan of Ksh200.

Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga takes a photo with Bevalyn Kwamboka with sacks of potatoes and the branded aprons on Tuesday, October 5.
Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga takes a photo with Bevalyn Kwamboka with sacks of potatoes and the branded aprons on Tuesday, October 5.
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She noted that she uses the proceeds of the business to support her education. Kwamboka is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education at Kenyatta University.

In a sympathetic tone, she appealed to the government agencies not to kick her out as they would have ended her source of income and even compel her to go back to their rural home.

"What I can tell KeNHA is that as much as I sell chips here, I have not affected anything, I have taken precautionary measures by placing an iron sheet even to prevent smoke from destroying the footbridge. This (referring to the business) is my mother, this is my father, this is my husband, this is my employment," she stated.

"If I stop this business, I will call off my university education and just go back to my rural home because this is my everything. If KeNHA comes that will be the end of me, I will have no otherwise but just move out of Nairobi." 

In a response to one of the social media users who had tagged KURA concerning her business, the government agency had termed the chips mwitu venture operations as outlawed.

"This is unauthorised and an infringement to pedestrian rights, the footbridges and walkways are meant for pedestrian passage and not any form of business," read an excerpt of the statement.

In another message directed at Jubilee nominated Senator Millicent Omanga, the 23-year-old made it clear that she did mean to sound ungrateful.

She said that after Senator Omanga posted that she had given her money she began receiving calls from all over people demanding a share, some other friends who used to loan her started withdrawing their support, and even her mum was forced to ask her to move back home due to the messages she was receiving.

"A day after Omanga posted her tweet I started receiving calls from new numbers telling me to go and open a bigger business. Someone called my mum and told her that I have been given a lot of money tell her to change her phone number and even move out from where she currently resides to avoid being attacked," she stated.

"It became too much, so I had to clarify to avoid so many calls. I was so much appreciative that she provided me with the umbrella, that was what I needed, but the issue of money has made so many people who were supporting me turn off," she emotionally said.

Addressing the negative comments about her dress code, she also made it clear that she does not have any bad intentions but her aim is to sell chips and make ends meet at the end of the day.

Chips Vendor Bevalyne Kwamboka Running Her Business
Chips Vendor Bevalyne Kwamboka Running Her Business
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