Traders at Kongowea market incurred losses running into millions of shillings on Thursday after the highways authority demolished their stalls.
Some of the business people at the market's Lights section broke into tears after their pleas to the Kenya National Highways Authority fell on deaf ears.
This section of the market accommodates around 1,500 traders.
The victims got to work early as 5 am hoping to earn their families some money.
Hell broke lose at around 7.30am when a bulldozer’s engine roared to life, flattening everything in front of it.
The traders said they had not been issued with any notice.
“Police ordered us out of the stalls. They did not even give us time to register what was going on,” Joseph Kioko said.
Kioko said he was told the demolition was to make way for the expansion of Mombasa-Malindi highway.
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The aftermath of the demolition of stalls at Lights section of Kongowea market in Mombasa, February 22, 2018. /BRIAN OTIENO
Benta Achieng, an M-Pesa shop operator, said she was attending to a client when an officer ordered her out of her small booth.
“I was in shock. I thought I was being robbed. The person ordering me out was dressed in police uniform, which confused me more."
Alfred Muthee said he took a loan of Sh2.5 million two months ago and had bought more shoes to sell.
“How am I going to repay this loan? The bank will not care that my business was flattened by the government."
KeNHA officials who were supervising the demolition declined to speak to the media while others were not immediately available for comment.
The bulldozer flattened most of the stalls, including those with concrete walls.
Traders watch in anguish as their stalls are demolished at Lights in Mombasa, February 22, 2018 / BRIAN OTIENO
The traders called on Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and other political leaders to intervene.
Nyali politician Saido Abdalla, who arrived at the scene later, said it is wrong for the government to subject its hard-working citizens to untold suffering.
“Why would you wake up one morning to demolish people’s work places without providing alternatives? It is inhumane and barbaric,” Abdalla said.
He said he would seek court orders against demolitions.
The politician was seen arguing with Nyali police boss Christopher Rotich who was at the scene.
His Kisauni counterpart Sangura Musee was also at the scene.