Mombasa traders protest Mama Ngina sheds demolition

Work in progress at the proposed regeneration of Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa County

Hundreds of traders at Mama Ngina Drive on Tuesday staged a demonstration to Mombasa County commissioner's office to protests demolition of their sheds by the county.

The angry traders forced their way to the highly guarded Uhuru Na Kazi building, which houses government offices to seek an audience with the county chief.

They were allowed in after a short altercation with security officers at the gate and they moved all the way to the commissioner's office on the eighth floor.

County commissioner Evans Achoki listened to their representatives but warned they would not be allowed to disrupt business and renovation works in Mama Ngina Drive.

 "There is work ongoing at Mama Ngina drive, they (traders) should pave way for work to be accomplished," the county chief said.

Traders through their representative Juma Mohammed told The Standard the Mombasa County Askari's in two trucks and a probox van trooped into the area at around 12 am and descended on their businesses as others went on a looting spree.

He claimed the officials armed with axes and other crude weapons demolished their sheds including kiosks and carted away foodstuff and furniture.

Juma who has been frying crisps and doubles up as night security guard said they were five-night guards and when they tried to intervene, the rowdy askaris overpowered them and even threatened them.

He said the 100 members are now counting losses worth thousands of shillings and want the government to compensate them.

The county secretary urged the affected traders to engage county government for a rigorous process to determine if there were any goods carted away by the officials due diligence will be done to refund them.
There are over 300 traders operating at Mama Ngina Drive.
President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the construction of modern waterfront project at a cost of Sh460 million.