Small-scale traders in Kahawa Sukari Estate, Kiambu County are counting losses after waking up to find their sheds flattened by a bulldozer just a day after New Year.

Among the destroyed structures is a public toilet belonging to the Kiambu County government and the area Member of County Assembly’s (MCA’s) office, which were pulled down in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep.

 The demolition comes in the wake of a protracted dispute over the ownership of a prime half-acre parcel of land adjacent to the nearby Quickmart Supermarket and a matatu terminus off the Thika superhighway.

 Owners of the businesses pointed an accusing finger at a local developer whom they accused of carrying out the demolition without issuing any notice or having a court order in effect.

 The traders who included Mpesa agents said they incurred cumulative losses running into several million shillings and appealed to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to intervene.

 “This is not only brutal but also inhuman since those who carried out the exercise did not bother to notify us so that we can remove our wares,” said Solomon Nderitu, a plumber who is one of the afflicted persons.

 Samuel Mwaniki, the chairman of Kahawa Sukari Residents and Plot Owners Association said he received a call at 1.30 am when the demolition squad struck using a bulldozer and proceeded to the site only to find all the structures flattened.

 He termed the move as criminal as the demolished toilet was the only such facility in the busy and densely populated area and leaves members of the public highly inconvenienced.

 “This public toilet was built in 2011 by the then Ruiru Municipal council and it stands on a public car park used by residents and matatu operators. Unfortunately, some people illegally allocated the plot to a private developer,” said Mwaniki.

 Area MCA Kennedy Odhiambo said he incurred losses amounting over Sh200,000 including office furniture and computers among other items.

Public utilities

 He said Kahawa Sukari Ltd initially sold 1,600 acres of land in the area and set aside 16 acres for public utilities which they later converted into change-of-user status and started selling them.

 He issued a seven-day ultimatum for the surrender of all the public utility plots being held by individuals in the area, failure to which he said he would take up the matter with the county assembly.

 “I am giving them seven days to surrender all the public utility plots that they are holding, failure or elese we shall take legal action,” said the MCA, noting that parcels of land belonging to schools and other institutions have been grabbed.

Some Kiambu MCAs requested the administration to ensure the construction of markets in a move to promote SMEs.

Kiamwangi MCA Kung’u Smart has also requested the county government to construct a modern market in Gatundu to promote commerce. The MCA said that the construction of markets will help increase revenue uptake.

“This is a win-win situation, the county to increase markets and this will double or triple the number of traders who in return will pay taxes to the administration,” he said.

He requested the formation of committees that would ensure that the stalls in the market are allocated to rightful beneficiaries in a free and transparent manner,” he said.

Thika Town MCA Mwangi Kentams requested Wamatangi to construct a modern market at Mukiriti. He said that the market will help to solve hawkers’ problems and reduce crime.

Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a urged the county government to construct a modern market in Thika town saying the move will encourage more Kenyans to engage in business and help in revenue generation.