Concerns over illegal traders evictions in Mombasa

Director of Commissions for Human Rights and Justice group Julius Ogogo inspects a section of a car showroom that was demolished yesterday. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

The county has embarked on a crackdown to reclaim all land encroaching on road reserves within the City despite a court order stopping the exercise.

Yesterday several open secondhand car showrooms and other business were partially demolished by the county officials who said the traders were given a notice to vacate on April 9, this year.

The traders however criticized the county for ignoring court orders which were first issued on January 17, 2014 and was last extended on April 16, this year.

“It is a sheer impunity by the county. We will definitely file contempt case against the county officials that undertook this illegal act,” said Mr Harshit Rawal, the director of Corner Garage.

Open secondhand car showrooms were demolished in the exercise the county officials said was to clear illegal structures, vehicles and abandoned containers on the road reserves and pavements.

The county also revoked past temporary occupation licenses issued to businessmen on government land along Tangana road.

“We wish to notify you of the closure of the showroom and repossession of the space,” stated a notice dated April 9, 2019 signed by Chief Officer in charge of trade Abdhulwahab Mbarak.

He issued a 14 day notice for the showrooms to vacate the space declaring that the notice “will not be rescinded” warning that if they fail to vacate the county will demolish the structures.

Mbarak also threatened to sue the showrooms owners who would fail to vacate from the un-alienated county government land in the area near the old Railway Station. 

Director for Commission for Human Rights and Justice Rights group Julius Ogogo said the demolitions were illegal and claimed that those close to senior county officials were spared.

“Why do they evict after they have collected their taxes,” posed Ogogoh.