Tensions flared in Ngara, Nairobi, on Wednesday, October 8, after more than 600 traders took to the streets to protest the demolition of their shops by Nairobi County officers.
The unrest followed an operation by Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration to clear structures at the Fig Tree Market, part of a broader plan to renovate the trading center.
However, traders say the demolitions were carried out under the cover of darkness by groups of young men allegedly accompanied by armed police officers.
Angry traders and residents responded by barricading sections of Limuru Road a key route linking Nairobi to Kiambu County and lighting bonfires, causing major disruptions to traffic.
Video footage from the scene captured the moment traders tried to block the ongoing demolitions.
However, county officers, backed by security personnel, swiftly intervened to maintain order and continue the operation.
Traders are now demanding compensation and transparency in the redevelopment plans, accusing the county of failing to give adequate notice before the demolitions began.
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