“KeNHA Demolishes Unauthorized Stalls at Roysambu Roundabout”

“KeNHA Demolishes Unauthorized Structures in Effort to Reclaim Road Reserves”

In the early hours of Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) carried out a major demolition operation at the Roysambu Roundabout along the busy Thika Superhighway, leveling illegal stalls and roadside kiosks that had for years lined the road reserve. The exercise, which began at around 1:20 a.m., saw heavy machinery — including excavators and bulldozers — flattening structures that traders had erected close to the Shell petrol station exit toward Kamiti Road and alongside the Kenya Power perimeter wall. Police and security personnel were present to secure the operation and assure order as work progressed into the morning.

The scene that greeted commuters after dawn was stark: once-bustling lines of informal businesses had been reduced to a field of scattered debris, twisted metal sheets, and splintered wooden beams. Hundreds of traders who depended on these roadside ventures to support their families were left counting losses, many describing their livelihoods as “destroyed” within hours. Some business owners were seen picking through the wreckage, salvaging what they could — a poignant testimony to the heavy human cost of the exercise.

KeNHA’s Mandate and Rationale

The Kenya National Highways Authority is a state agency established under the Kenya Roads Act to develop, manage, and maintain the nation’s trunk roads and highways. Among its critical responsibilities is safeguarding road reserves, which are legally protected zones along highways intended to ensure safe and unobstructed movement of traffic, emergency services, and commuters. Encroachment of these areas by unauthorized structures — whether stalls, shops, kiosks, or ad-hoc markets — is considered a violation of national statutes and a serious threat to road safety and traffic flow.

KeNHA has, in recent months, intensified its enforcement actions along the Thika Superhighway — a major artery linking Nairobi to many of its satellite towns. The authority has emphasized that many of the demolished structures at Roysambu and other locations were built without permits and posed hazards by obstructing lines of sight, narrowing pedestrian walkways, and forcing both pedestrians and public service vehicles to operate dangerously close to high-speed traffic.

Part of the broader plan, according to KeNHA, is to reclaim road reserves for intended infrastructure improvements, including the construction of modern bus bays and designated pick-up and drop-off points for matatus and buses. Such facilities are expected to reduce chronic congestion and enhance commuter safety along the busy corridor. The authority’s notices to traders, including one issued on January 9, 2026, gave those operating at Roysambu and neighbouring Githurai sections seven days to vacate before enforcement action.

A Pattern of Demolitions and Backlash

The operation at Roysambu was not an isolated incident. Just weeks earlier, KeNHA had carried out similar demolitions in Githurai 45, where roadside market structures were flattened and traders clashed with police in protest. That episode saw burning tyres and blocked lanes as frustrated vendors objected to what they described as abrupt enforcement that ignored their plight and limited time to respond.

In the days following that crackdown, more traders along sections like Allsops, Kihunguro and Delview received notices to clear their stalls or face enforcement, signalling that the authority’s actions might extend further along the highway. KeNHA officials have maintained that these measures are legal and necessary, citing persistent encroachment and the need to restore order and improve safety across the corridor.

The response from affected communities and some political leaders has been mixed. While some argue that clearing road reserves is vital for traffic management and long-term infrastructure goals, others have criticized the demolitions for their timing, perceived lack of empathy, and the socioeconomic shock inflicted on low-income traders who rely entirely on daily earnings from their roadside stalls.

The Human and Economic Impact

For many traders, the sudden demolition came as a harsh blow. Businesses that had been built over years — often with personal or family savings — were wiped out in a matter of hours. Some have lamented that notices came too late or were not clearly communicated, leaving them no viable alternative but to watch helplessly as bulldozers tore down structures that sustained their livelihoods.

Estimates of losses run into millions of shillings, with entire families now unsure how they will recover. The picture is further compounded by fears that upcoming demolitions — as hinted in notices to traders in other areas — could displace even more small-scale businesses without a structured plan for relocation or compensation.

Looking Ahead

As Kenya continues to modernize its transport infrastructure and enforce compliance along vital highways, the tension between urban planning imperatives and informal economic survival is likely to persist. For the government and agencies like KeNHA, reclaiming road reserves is not merely bureaucratic enforcement but a cornerstone of safer, more efficient transportation networks. For affected traders, however, these operations translate into sudden loss of income, disrupted family support systems, and uncertainty about their economic futures.

Balancing these competing interests — public safety and personal livelihoods — will require careful policy planning, including proactive engagement with local communities, clearer communication of deadlines and consequences, and ideally, relocation strategies or compensation frameworks that mitigate the fallout for traders who find themselves on the wrong side of highway redevelopment.