News
Officials say traders had been warned of operation
Bulldozers pull down the building housing Nakumatt Thika Road branch. Photo/JOSEPH MATHENGE
Posted Saturday, November 1 2008 at 20:45
Government bulldozers descended on business premises on a road reserve along Thika Road on Saturday morning and destroyed property worth millions.
The Nakumatt Thika Road branch, Roy Transmotors, Vision Grill restaurant and Kenol service station were demolished in the operation which began at 5 a.m.
Security firms had to hurriedly empty automated teller machines of Barclays, Equity and NIC banks before they were destroyed. The operation attracted a large crowd and caused a heavy traffic jam on the usually busy road for the better part of the morning.
Armed Administration Police officers had a hard time keeping looters at bay as the demolition continued. But some managed to grab items, especially from the supermarket.
Rashid Hilowle, the security team boss, said they had arrested a man trying to cart away a colour TV from the supermarket.
The owner of Visions Grill, Mr Henry Mureithi, allowed people to eat and drink to their fill before the restaurant was pulled down.
At the Kenol service station next to Nakumatt, employees emptied the tanks which the manager, Mr Jonathan Onyango, said had 26,000 litres of fuel worth over Sh3 million.
Ministry of Roads officials on site told the Sunday Nation that the businesses had been served with a notice three months ago but were reluctant to leave the premises. More demolitions are anticipated in the coming days.
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Submitted by lenmwendiPosted November 03, 2008 12:00 PM
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Submitted by lucky260
UN PREDICTED LIFE What do Kenya's' big guys call development? maybe In Kenya the incumbent government is encouraging people that “Kazi Iendelee” (“Work to continue”) Some Kenyans are probably asking themselves, “Kazi gani?” (“Which work?”)with all these bulldozers. Destroying properties worth million of shillings and leaving citizens jobless is not development. Or maybe it is just a way of opening door for International donors to lend us their dollars. Sounds useless to me constructing new roads if citizen will not have that money for transportation. CELESTINE
Posted November 02, 2008 10:55 PM -
Submitted by nani_ngombe
Too much maziwa_lala in the head, may be. This space was first a road reserve before some greedy and corrupt man bought it off for whatever purposes. I detest this kind of arguments. Tell them to Denali. Millions can't suffer at the expense of a few land grabbing rogues. I hope the Roads Ministry extends this exercise all over the city.
Posted November 02, 2008 10:17 PM -
Submitted by wabsken
finally this goverment worked for mwananchi.compare how much is lost in thika road traffic jam.it amounts to billins as in fuel and production tyme per each kenyan sitting inthat jam times how many years the jam has been there.it doesnt matter how many millions were lost but we will all save more once the project is done versesthis few crooked thiefs who have robbed kenyans for too long.
Posted November 02, 2008 10:06 PM -
Submitted by denis1960
Right, Maziwa, so, I may start a business on the Kenyatta Avenue roundabaout, and thereafter support many people and be left like that? Come on! A minimum order is desireable and desired! (that the way this, as many other acts, is done is debatable... well...)
Posted November 02, 2008 09:36 PM
RSS
We have been subjected to a leadership full of impunity and disregard for law and order. What the govt has done along thika road is desirable and should be encouraged and done to all other roads in the country. We have to start rebuilding this country and that begins from here. Kudos to the Ministry of Roads for doing this.