More than 300 Traders in Transnzoia County are counting losses following demolitions that ongoing by the Government over what the Government claims it’s in its efforts of reclaiming back the land that was grabbed by individuals.
The move comes after regional commissioner for Rift valley George Natembeya gave orders yesterday for those traders on the railway land to vacate and pave way for the Government to initiate its development projects on the said piece of land.
Natembeya claimed since railway operations ceased some long time ago, some individuals used opportunities of grabbing its land by erecting structures on the said land, some sold railway land to unsuspecting individuals while others opened up businesses on the land.
The demolitions on the said land started yester night and has seen several structures demolished with businessmen expressing the big losses they have incurred following demolitions. Some of the demolished properties were the oil hub Kiboswa petrol station of Kitale, several churches as well as individual structures that was erected on the piece of land.
Traders explained the financial constraints they were undergoing especially during this covid-19 pandemic claiming their lives will be difficult since the demolished structures were used in attaining their daily break. “Demolitions of our business structures have rendered us jobless and we will instead be faced with difficult lives as the demolished
structures were used as a source of income that we used to fend for our families”, said Kiarie affected trader.
They have appealed to Trans Nzoia county Government of to instead set aside other alternative areas for them to effectively carry out their businesses since the county Government will be adversely affected in revenue collection as traders have been paying taxes to the county Government. They however blamed their land lords over what they termed as sitting on vacation notices that were written to them and denied them the information on when and how they were supposed to vacate the railway
land.
“We blame our landlords, they were issued with notices that wanted us to vacate this premises but they didn’t share that information with us we are now wanderers in this town”, claimed the businessmen.
The grabbed railway land is estimated at 159 acres of land which the Government wants to reposes back for other developments that it says will benefit the locals.