Mombasa govt pulls down stalls on road reserves

Traders salvage what was left after their stalls opposite Coast General Hospital in Mombasa were demolished on June 30, 2015. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI |

What you need to know:

  • Traders cry foul, saying askaris were stealing goods during the demolitions.
  • Action aimed at paving the way for expanding roads and reducing traffic jams.

The Mombasa County government is demolishing illegal structures on road reserves.

County Transport Executive Tawfiq Balala said the action is meant to pave the way for the expansion of roads and thereby address traffic congestion in the town.

Mr Balala said lorries blocking access roads were also being removed.

“Some individuals have turned some roads into their own parking yards, causing chaos in Mombasa. We are getting rid of vehicles blocking our roads as they are causing snarl-ups in the town,” he told the Nation by phone.

On Tuesday, stalls near Coast General Hospital and Allidina Visram High School were pulled down by county askaris at 4am.

The askaris also removed lorries parked near an open-air garage opposite the school.

Traders, however, complained that the county did not serve them with any demolition notice.

They said the askaris were not only demolishing their properties but also stealing from them.

Mr Abdallah Ahmed Suleiman accused the askaris of stealing his Sh20,000 after vandalising his stall.

TAKEN A LOAN

A dealer in tuk tuk spares, Mr Steve Samuel, also complained that part of his stock was stolen by the askaris after they demolished his stall.

Ms Mariam Mweru, a food vendor outside the hospital whose stall was brought down, said she had taken a loan and was expecting to pay it through her business.

“I took a Sh100,000 loan and I have paid only Sh15,000. Where will I get the rest of the money to clear the debt? How will I manage to keep my two children in school?” asked the 27-year-old.

Mr Balala said open-air garages would be shut down in the drive to improve the flow of traffic in the region.

“Some politicians are putting pressure on me to stop the demolitions, but I will not give in to their demands. I will continue with the demolition,” he said.

He said the county plans to set up a committee to tackle traffic jams.