No one will lose their business, Badi says after city demolitions

Nairobi Metropolitan Services has refuted claims that traders were forcefully evicted from the premises of the Nairobi Railways Club.

Director-General Mohamed Badi on Wednesday said all the traders had been briefed of what is happening and came to an agreement.

Badi said the demolitions are aimed to pave way for the construction of a green park terminus that will be used to hold all PSV vehicles plying on Mombasa, Lang'ata and Ngong roads.

"All we are asking for is cooperation from the business community. The changes that will be here are for good because as we intend to reduce congestion in the CBD, there will be services that will be needed here,"  he said.

Badi said no one will lose their businesses as claimed.

He said those who had leased the premises for other businesses like the car selling will be compensated by Kenya Re while those who own restaurants will not be evicted.

"All we are doing is redesigning and realigning the businesses. Once complete, those with restaurants will be smiling because with a bus terminus there will be a lot of people to be served food," Badi said.

Badi said KeNHA has purchased the land from the retirement benefit scheme and the Chinese contractor in charge of the construction of the JKIA-Westlands Expressway has budgeted for the inclusion of the terminus in his contract.

"As a county, we shall not incur any cost because that is a matter that has already been sorted out," he said.

He said other green park termini will be constructed at the Grogon roundabout and Desai to accomodate some of the bvehicles from Westlands and Thika road.