Traders in Githurai 45, along the busy Thika Superhighway, have suffered significant losses after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) demolished roadside stalls and kiosks in the early hours of Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Demolition Operation
Bulldozers and excavators flattened iron-sheeted sheds, wooden stalls, and kiosks that had lined the road reserve for years. KeNHA explained that the operation aimed to:
Clear the road reserve
Create designated bus bays
Improve traffic flow and enhance road safety along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors
Although traders were given a seven-day notice earlier in the month, many say the demolition was abrupt, leaving them with no alternative spaces to continue their businesses.
One trader reported losing goods worth thousands of shillings, highlighting the sudden disruption to their livelihoods.
Public Reaction
The demolitions triggered protests and traffic disruption, with some traders lighting fires and blocking parts of the road in objection. Police were deployed to restore order.
Civil society groups and residents have called for more inclusive planning, urging authorities to consider the economic impact on small-scale traders and local communities before undertaking such projects.
The incident raises important questions about balancing infrastructure development with the protection of informal traders, who rely on roadside markets as a primary source of income.
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