Kiosks near major establishments to be demolished, says Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero

The Nairobi City County will from Wednesday demolish structures erected outside churches, mosques, learning institutions and social halls.

Governor Evans Kidero said some kiosks outside the institutions provide cover for criminals to monitor movements and plot attacks.

He said his office had issued a notice to kiosk owners with or without licences to remove any structures in specific commercial and residential areas, after recommendation by the city inspectorate team that did an audit of the vulnerable security points around the city.

The notice expires on Wednesday after which the demolition will begin.

“The kiosks outside learning institutions provide a disguise to criminals who pause as traders yet they are monitoring the movements and studying the resident’s movements before they strike. This has come to our attention and we are doing this to avert any impending attack whether large or small scale,” said head of communication Walter Mong’are.

Mongare said some kiosks outside learning institution have been found to sell drugs to students.

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He added City Hall will assist with relocation of the traders who will be affected by this move and where possible work with the residents to find suitable locations for such trading activities without affecting the livelihood of those who own such premises.

He said they will also remove illegal boda boda stops which were aiding quick getaway and assisting criminal activities.

Mong’are cited recent cases of armed boda boda riders who pounce on residents, especially just outside their gates.

“Not only do these kiosks provide shelter for suspected crime perpetuators but also provide a natural gathering of people who may be surveying people’s movement and patterns, information which they then use to stage attacks.”

Chief officer, inspectorate Francis Munyambu said the fight against crime is a primary responsibility of the national government but it affects all and that is why they are undertaking this operation as a county.

On his part, Kidero urged the national government to engage the county government through formalised and consultative forums that will see both governments share security briefs regularly and consistently.

Kidero said security should be a shared function by both levels of government so as to safeguard the country to avoid scenarios witnessed in various parts of the country—including Garissa where 148 people were executed by Al Shabaab militants.