Sad tales of traders turned beggars, following Karimbux demolitions
A section of the new stalls constructed at the contested parcel of land at Karimbux-Baringo stage on September 6, 2024.
Five months ago, numerous business stalls lined up along the Karimbux-Baringo stages, were demolished.
The demolitions were conducted by a private developer who laid claim to the piece of land in the heart of Nakuru city.
Mtaa Wangu has now learnt that the individual has since constructed new stalls in the contentious parcel of land.
In an interview, Simon Nasieku, the chairperson of the Karimbux Stage Stall Owners and Traders' Association says things changed for the affected traders.
"Over 50 traders lost their source of livelihood and most of the people who lost their businesses have not been able to fully recover from the losses they incurred," he notes.
Simon Nasieku during an interview at Karimbux stage on September 6, 2024.
June Wanjiru is one of those who came to her workplace early on that Sunday morning only to find an empty space where her stall once stood.
"Nilifika hivi kupata hata stall yangu hakuna. Nakuambia pressure ilinipanda. I had gone to Uganda on Friday and purchased a new stock of clothes which I brought into the stall on Saturday, only to come on Sunday and find my shop flattened," she says.
Wanjiru continues, " Saa hizi nimerudi chini kabisa. In a day I would make close to sh. 10,000 selling clothes. The money enabled me to pay rent for my home and cater for the needs of my two children."
"I found it hard to sustain myself and my children in Nakuru due to the high cost of living and I had to relocate to Gilgil where life is cheaper. Now I am unemployed and can barely afford to pay my rent which is sh. 3,000. My children also have had a hard time adjusting," she laments.
Jared Mogwasi, another trader who had a stall at Karimbux-Baringo stage agrees with June that the demolitions greatly affected their lives.
Jared Mogwasi a trader affected by demolitions at Karimbux during an interview on September 6, 2024.
"I had travelled up country to visit my family and then came back on Monday to find my stall had been demolished and a perimeter wall put up in its place. I always paid my license fees on time and I knew, I was operating legally. Honestly, at first I was very confused," he says.
Mogwasi says he has three children who are in school and depended on the profits from the business he ran.
“I had a water selling business and in a month I would make sh. 60,000 that really helped in supporting my family but now, I just depend on family and friends to help me get by," he laments.
The father of three says "It pains me even more remembering that I could not salvage any of the goods and equipment that were in the stall. At least if I had the items, I would have been able to relocate my business somewhere but now I have nothing. Five months down the line I have been unable to get back on my feet".
The matter regarding ownership of the half acre piece of land is now under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).