There was tension and disorder in Machakos Town on the morning of Friday, July 25, after police officers fired teargas canisters to scatter a group of traders who had taken to the streets in protest.
The demonstrators had blocked the busy Kyumbi–Machakos Road near the Miwani area, causing a major disruption to traffic and daily activities.
The traders were reacting angrily to the demolition of their business structures, which they said happened in the early hours of the morning without any prior notice or warning.
According to them, county enforcement officers moved in around 1:00 a.m., accompanied by bulldozers, and brought down their stalls, kiosks, and temporary shops.
Photos shared by Kenyans.co.ke showed the protestors lighting fires, erecting barricades, and completely blocking the road.
The incident brought traffic to a standstill and forced commuters to seek alternative routes. Police officers were quickly deployed to the scene and used teargas to break up the demonstration and restore order.
Traders in Shock After Surprise Demolition
Speaking to the media, some traders narrated how they were caught completely off-guard by the demolition exercise. One devastated trader recalled getting a late-night call from a friend, warning him that bulldozers were tearing down business structures at the site.
“When I arrived, my kiosk—still under construction and worth about Ksh60,000—had already been flattened.
I stood there in disbelief. We didn’t even get a warning or an eviction notice. If they had told us, we would have at least saved our stock and personal belongings,” he said.
Many of the affected traders said the demolition has completely destroyed their livelihoods, leaving them with no source of income and nowhere to go.
County Government Defends Action
Responding to the outcry, the Machakos County Government, led by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, defended the demolition exercise. According to the county administration, the structures that were pulled down had been illegally built on road reserves, which are public land meant for infrastructure development and safety.
The county said the enforcement operation was lawful and necessary, emphasizing that the traders had been operating in violation of existing regulations.
“These structures were sitting on road reserves, and it is the duty of the county government to ensure public spaces are kept clear. The action taken was within the law,” a county official stated.
A Pattern of Forced Evictions?
This is not the first time such a confrontation has occurred. Just a few months ago, traders from Kamwangi Town in Kiambu County staged a similar protest after their central market was demolished overnight on May 20.
That incident followed the rejection of a new market project championed by President William Ruto, which aimed to replace the old market with a modern trading facility.
The demolitions, both in Machakos and Kamwangi, have raised concerns about how county governments handle relocations and demolitions, especially when people’s livelihoods are involved.
Traders have repeatedly complained about lack of communication, abrupt demolitions, and no alternative locations being provided for them to continue doing business.
The Bigger Picture
The protest in Machakos paints a broader picture of frustration among small business owners across Kenya, who often find themselves in legal disputes with county authorities over land use.
Many are calling for more humane and transparent approaches when dealing with evictions and demolitions, especially during tough economic times.
As the dust settles in Machakos, the affected traders are left with damaged property, lost income, and uncertainty about their future—while the government stands by its position that the law must be followed to protect public spaces.
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