NAIROBI, Kenya — Traders operating along Kamundo Road in Kamulu are counting losses after parts of their business premises were reportedly demolished by unknown individuals allegedly acting on behalf of a private developer.
The demolitions, which traders say took place on Wednesday night, were accompanied by allegations that property worth millions of shillings was stolen from the affected premises.
The traders are now calling for government intervention, saying the repeated demolitions have disrupted their businesses and left them facing significant financial losses.
Traders accuse developer of repeated demolitions
According to the traders, the premises they occupy were allocated by the government, and any decision to remove them should be handled by the relevant authorities.
They argue that the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is responsible for matters concerning the road reserve and should be involved in any lawful eviction from the area.
The traders allege that a private developer recently emerged claiming an interest in the area and has been working with the local chief to facilitate the development of his property.
They further claim the developer wants sections of the premises they occupy demolished to create access and make way for construction.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the developer’s response to the claims was not immediately available.
Latest incident described as seventh demolition
The traders say parts of their premises have been demolished repeatedly, with Wednesday night’s incident allegedly being the seventh demolition linked to the dispute.
One trader said they initially agreed to allow the developer access to his property after discussions over the use of the area.
“When this developer came here, which was only recently, we as traders agreed to give way and allow him access to his property. However, he has since taken advantage of that agreement. This is now the seventh time the demolitions have happened, and we have suffered significant losses.”
The traders allege that the developer subsequently went beyond the arrangements they had agreed upon, escalating the dispute.
They say repeated destruction of business structures has affected their ability to operate and resulted in losses of stock, equipment and other property.
Traders question security response
The affected traders have also criticised security personnel in the area, alleging that officers watched as unknown individuals demolished sections of their premises without intervening.
They say the failure to protect their property has increased their concerns over their safety and the security of their businesses.
The traders are now appealing to both the national and county governments to intervene and establish who authorised the demolitions and whether the actions complied with the law.
They are also seeking clarity over ownership of the disputed land and the authority under which the demolitions are being carried out.
Kamulu demolitions have a longer history
The latest dispute comes months after a separate demolition exercise along the Kamulu-Kangundo Road corridor.
In June 2026, roadside structures and market stalls were demolished in an operation targeting structures said to have been built on public road reserves or land whose ownership was contested.
The demolitions were linked to government infrastructure upgrades and land ownership disputes and resulted in substantial losses for traders while also causing significant traffic disruption along the corridor towards the Eastern Bypass.
The events highlighted the long-running tension between traders operating along major road corridors and authorities seeking to protect road reserves for infrastructure development.
KeNHA issued eviction notice in May
The current dispute also follows a 30-day eviction notice issued by KeNHA in May 2026 to traders operating along the Kamulu-Joska-Malaa-Tala-Kangundo road corridor.
The notice directed traders and other occupants to vacate the road reserve before enforcement action was taken.
Structures were subsequently removed during enforcement operations, affecting roadside businesses operating along sections of the corridor.
However, the traders involved in the latest incident say their current dispute concerns a private developer and alleged demolitions that they claim have occurred repeatedly.
That distinction is significant because lawful clearance of a road reserve by the relevant authority is different from private individuals allegedly demolishing structures or removing traders’ property.
Calls for investigation
The traders want authorities to establish who carried out Wednesday night’s demolitions, who authorised the operation and whether any property was removed from the premises.
They are also calling for investigations into their allegations of property theft, saying the value of goods and equipment lost could run into millions of shillings.
