Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho-led government has kicked out car sellers and petroleum tankers from the Central Business District.
Through a special gazette notice issued by the Mombasa County Government, showrooms have been given a 30-day ultimatum to move out of the CBD to another designated area on the mainland side in the Jomvu Sub County.
“Notice is given to all car showrooms and petroleum road tankers owners within Mombasa Island to relocate their showrooms within a period of 30 days from the date of this notice.
"Failure to do so, the county government of Mombasa shall close down the showrooms or parking yards without further reference to you at your own cost,” the special gazette notice from, Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works County Executive Officer Taufiq Balala read.
Through the notice, Balala warned car sellers and petroleum against defying the directive threatening to close down their businesses.
Defending the decision, Mombasa county stated that the move was aimed at decongesting the city and instituting proper planning of the Coastal city.
The transport CEC further added that the county government is legally mandated to kick out car sellers from the CBD.
“Pursuant to the county government act of 2012, Urban Areas and Cities Amendment Act of 2019 and Physical and Land Use Planning Act of 2019 part (IV) section 56, it is the role of the county government to plan and control the use of and the development of land and buildings in the interest of proper and orderly development within its jurisdiction,” he added.
Balala directed the affected traders to seek help from the county physical planning offices located on the 3rd floor of the Bima Towers.
“The area so designated for motor vehicle showrooms and petroleum road tankers in Jomvu is ready for a visit, inspection, and allocation for such purposes."
According to Balala, the relocation plan is within a long-term plan of Mombasa county. He explained that the relocation plan has been factored in the Mombasa Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plan (ISUDP) 2015-2035 commonly known as Mombasa Vision 2035.
Detailing why the county decided to also relocate tankers, he noted that section 98 of the Petroleum Act no 2 of 2019 mandated counties to provide alternative and safe designated parking exclusively reserved for petroleum road tankers to enhance safety, emergency response, and orders.
This decision also follows a series of complaints that were lodged by Mombasa residents on the effect of showrooms and petroleum tankers and how they had affected the free flow of traffic in the Coastal city.
