Demolitions: Families left helpless as businesses destroyed in Machakos

More than sixty families in Mlolongo town of Machakos county have been left helpless after their kiosks were demolished by the County Government.

 Kiosk owners woke up Wednesday morning to find all the structures flattened by County Askaris. It is reported that they took away all their belongings.

Speaking to The Standard at the scene, the desperate traders said they were left with nothing after the structures that have been there for over twenty years were destroyed.

Chairman of Mlolongo town traders Mr Boniface Mutiso, said the Askaris invaded the kiosks on Tuesday night at about 10pm and brought everything down, leaving the small scale traders counting losses of over Sh500,000.

Flanked by the angry traders, Mr Mutiso questioned why the County Government took the action yet the traders had not violated any rules and were operating within the by-laws of the county, where they normally pay taxes.

He said the families of the affected traders were at risk starving as the businesses were their only source of income.

''We wonder why at this critical time of Covid-19 when every Kenyan is fighting for any possible means of survival, the County Government is out to sabotage our efforts,'' he queried.

The traders appealed to Governor Alfred Mutua to intervene and rescue those whose families were left vulnerable.

They wondered why for all these years even before devolution, they were allowed to operate and pay trade licenses, only now to be subjected to this destruction. '

The traders threatened to hold peaceful demonstrations to seek their rights if proper action is not taken to restore the situation.

''We are calling upon the Machakos County Government to allow us re-install our kiosks and compensate for what was destroyed and taken away by the Askaris,'' said Mr Mutiso.