The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has notified traders along Thika Road of additional demolition operations for businesses encroaching on road reserves, coming shortly after the contentious Githurai clearances.
In a Friday notice, KeNHA announced that its personnel will now target the Roysambu Roundabout for a comparable operation to establish a modern bus terminal, modeled after the Githurai facility.
Despite objections from affected Githurai traders, the authority asserted that the demolition complied with legal requirements and that the road segment had been the site of numerous accidents, endangering both drivers and pedestrians.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has commenced removing unauthorized structures along the Thika Superhighway. The Authority began at Githurai, where the clearance will facilitate constructing a modern bus terminal,” the statement read.
It further explained, “These structures had encroached upon the road reserve, creating substantial hazards for thousands of drivers and pedestrians in the crowded market zone. This stretch has experienced multiple road safety incidents, a pattern the Authority is determined to eliminate.”
KeNHA indicated that the measure will enable buses and matatus to securely load and unload passengers, promoting better organization, efficiency, and traffic movement along the corridor.
Moreover, the highway authority noted that enhanced accessibility from Githurai Roundabout to the main highway will improve connections, providing more convenience for travelers and significantly reducing congestion in this heavily trafficked area.
On Thursday, confrontations between angry traders and law enforcement entered a second day, causing a portion of Thika Road to become blocked.
Heightened tensions persisted in the Githurai 45 district following nighttime destruction of numerous commercial establishments and kiosks, which resulted in substantial financial losses for many local vendors.
Near the route to Githurai 45, residents set up roadblocks with fires to disrupt transportation, while the main Thika Superhighway overpass remained operational for the time being.
Previously, Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader Rigathi Gachagua condemned the government for employing excessive force in the recent nighttime Githurai demolitions, characterizing the action as a ‘timid attack on merchants and local residents’.
Gachagua criticized the government’s decision to deploy resources for these operations rather than addressing security issues in regions like Isiolo.