City
Matatu operators and small-scale traders at the Thika town main stage are up in arms against the Kiambu County government over planned evictions to pave way for multi-billion infrastructure developments for the proposed Smart City.
The business people who held peaceful demonstrations in Thika town paralyzing operations said the stage redesigns by the county government points at a possible eviction. Led by the chairman of the stage traders John Turbo, they said some traders and hawkers at the stage have been warned that they will have to move, with some matatu stages likely to be shifted.
They lamented that they are being harassed by the county askaris who claim they want to streamline operations as they prepare for the city. “Everything from the new designs, the harassment by askaris points at evictions. In fact some of us have been told that they will have to move. We shall not allow this,” Turbo said.
The Thika Main stage
The over 5,000 traders who have worked at the stage for decades said this will affect their livelihoods and that they will resist the attempts. Miriam Mugure, a fruit vendor called on the county government to hold public participation forums to address their fears.
“We hear that small traders will give way to mega investors though it’s unclear whether we shall be given alternative spaces to ply our trade. This should be made clear,” Muruge said. The traders vowed to protest until the County government addresses their concerns.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has maintained his intentions to have Thika elevated to the Country’s sixth city after Eldoret. He has since put up a team of experts to come up with designs, cost implications and the expectations to clear the way for the smart city.
