Small-scale traders along Muthangari Drive in Westlands suffered losses after Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai and his team demolished their stalls that were still under construction.
In an interview with Kenyans.co.ke, the outspoken lawmaker confirmed storming the site on Sunday evening after noticing that the structures were being put up without a plan.
The traders argued that they had received approval from Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to set up the stalls, but Alai opposed the plan since it lacked input from the area residents.
"Everything should be planned. The traders built stalls without approval and cut down a tree planted roughly 30 or 40 years ago. How do you bring trees down because the Governor has asked you to set up stalls on the site?" he posed.
"There should be public participation before structures are set up. There was no involvement of area elected leaders. You cannot set up anything without involving area users, residents and leaders."
Alai revealed that he secured a Ksh2.8 million package for traders affected by the demolitions. Each stall owner was paid a minimum of around Ksh200,000.
"People should avoid building for the sake of building. The traders should vacate to pave the way for the planting of trees and flowers You don't have to choke life out of the city," he added.
"I did for them what nobody does in Nairobi. They wanted to be evicted but I talked to businessmen and they were given Ksh2.8 million. No one left with less than Ksh200,000."
One of the traders, who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke on condition of anonymity, however, refuted receiving the payout.
The food kiosks that serviced white-collar workers from nearby offices were demolished in mid-September.
A trader told the press at the time that the notice was short and many of her peers were left stranded with food and belongings.
“I received a phone call this morning informing me that my Kibanda had been demolished. I am now left with food that my staff had already prepared because no one told us that this would happen,” Sarah Iswaro told the press.
“This has been my place of work for the last eight years. My small business employed more than six people. Now, all of us are jobless."
The demolition was overseen by police officers.
