Likoni traders counting losses after KENHA demolishes stalls

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An excavator demolishing a stall in Likoni on Wednesday morning PHOTO JANET MURIKIRA

Mombasa,KENYA:Hundreds of traders along the Likoni –Ukunda road  are counting losses after their stalls were flattened on Wednesday morning.

The traders who had turned up to open their stalls were shocked to find excavators demolishing their stalls .
Some of the traders had to plead with officials of the Kenya national highways Authority to to allow them salvage their wares before the demolition can take place.

However some traders have accused the authority of lack of transparency saying saying some of the stalls had not been earmarked for demolitions but they were demolitions.
Justus Muindi an electronics trader said he had seen KENHA officials marking stalls for demolition but his stall was not marked.
“As you can see all my stall has been flattened but what is astonishing is that my stall had not been marked for demolition “ Muindi said while trying to salvage his flattened goods.

Armed police were deployed to oversee the demolition exercise.

Some of traders say that the authority had given out notices months ago and but it did not state in specific when the demolition exercise would take place.

“Yes they gave us a demolition notice but they did not state in specific when the demolition would commence, You know relocating a business is not something easy” Another trader who did not want to be identified said.
The demolition that kicked off in February in the North coast saw hundreds of stalls demolished along the Malindi – Mombasa road.
KENHA officials say the exercise is set to remove structures encroached on road reserves.
The demolition comes just as the country is gearing for the expansion of the Malindi-Bangamoyo road.

The 460 kilometre road when completed will link Malindi to Mombasa and Lunga Lunga on the Kenyan side then it moves to Tanga ,Pangani, Bangamoyo through Sadaani national park on the Tanzanian side.

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