Several traders who operate business stalls including shoe shining stalls and money transfer booths at the city centre have now accused the county of damaging their properties.
This was after the Nairobi County’s planning department and enforcement removed the structures on Tuesday night leaving traders stranded.
According to Nairobi County Chief Officer for Planning Patrick Analo, the operation was ordered following a resolution by the County Executive Committee chaired by the governor Johnson Sakaja.
During the meeting, relevant sectors were instructed to carry out the exercise so as to restored the order Hawat the city centre.
Analo added that the directive said that structures that were obstructing road reserves were marked and traders told to vacate adding that the exercise is ongoing.
This comes following recent public outcry by city residents including remarks by Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli that the Sakaja’s administration has failed to restore city’s former glory.
But in a petition to governor, the traders claiming to be about 1,500 said that the operation has exposed them to huge losses.
They said more than 40 shoe stands were carted away in their absence adding that carrying out the exercise at night was unfair.
“The losses of the damaged shoe shining stands are approximately Sh15 million considering the fact that they were smashed to the ground and cannot be used again,” the trader stated in petition.
The traders said they have been operating at the city centre for more than 14 years and the exercise will leave them without other sources income thus calling for meeting with governor and other department so as to reach out on amicable solution.
At the same time, they wondered why they are being evicted yet they got necessary approvals from the County to operate for many years.
