Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has given a seven-day notice to traders who have been conducting their operations on parts of the Thika Superhighway to vacate all structures and the merchandise that may be on the road reserve.

Taking it to their X handle on the night of Monday, February 23, 2026, KeNHA has said that the directive will be applied directly to the busy trading points such as Kihunguro, Allsops, and Delview. The authority gave notice to the public that it would enforce as per highway regulations where there was failure to comply before the stipulated time.

“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) wishes to notify all roadside traders operating along the Thika Superhighway at Kihunguro (both bounds), Allsops (both bounds), and Delview Sections to remove and clear their wares from the road reserve within seven days from the date of this notice, “KeNHA statement read in part.

The move, according to KeNHA, will take effect by the lapse of the seven days from the date of notice, meaning that traders have upto February 30, 2026, to vacate the structures on the road reserve.

According to the authority, roadside encroachments impede visibility and reduce the carriageway and shoulders, thus exposing persons to accident risks, especially at busy roads.

Githurai demolitions

The announcement comes days after clearance operations were undertaken in Githurai 45, where temporary structures and makeshift stalls were demolished.

KeNHA reports that the operation was a continuation of an exercise that was to reclaim road reserves that had been illegally occupied to improve safety in one of the busiest transportation routes in Kenya. The authority has said that encroachment to the highway reserve was dangerous to both motorists and pedestrians and had also hindered the scheduled infrastructure development, like designated bus bays and service lanes.

Protests over demolitions

The demolitions were met with protests, and traders blocked parts of the highway in a demonstration.

The police were engaged to break up the demonstrators, and normal traffic was restored. Most of the traders who were affected argued that the notice given was too short and that they were not given alternative trading spaces.

 Some of them claimed they had lost a huge amount of money since the stock and buildings were destroyed in the process. This has been followed by the political figures and local authorities, who have called for dialogue and a more humanitarian attitude when dealing with the informal traders who rely on roadside businesses to survive.

 KeNHA holds that the operations are legal and required to secure the integrity of the road reserve and enable planned developments, such as modernised bus parks and organised trading zones.

 KeNHA has encouraged traders to collaborate with the directive and seek the support of the concerned local authorities to consider the possibility of relocation through the claim that order restoration along the highway is paramount in ensuring efficient and safe movement along the corridor.