Roads authority now claims evicted Westlands traders were compensated
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) says it demolished the curio shops in Westlands on Thursday so as to facilitate expansion of a nearby road.
The government agency was compelled to give an explanation on the incident following public outrage.
“Kura has successfully demolished Kurio (sic) Kiosk along Ring Road Parklands to pave way for Dualling of the road. All the affected persons were compensated and proper notice issued to them,” the agency said in a statement.
Most Kenyans who commented on the demolitions did not necessarily have a problem with the demolitions, but rather, the way the exercise was carried out.
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The demolitions, which led to destruction of properties worth millions of shillings, caused a heavy traffic snarl up in the Nairobi suburb.
Among the motorists affected were those plying the Lower Kabete Road and Peponi Road.
The affected traders have meanwhile vowed to challenge the demolitions in court, with others claiming the particular area might have been grabbed by a prominent politician.