Karungo wa Thang’wa has condemned the recent overnight evictions and demolitions targeting small traders in parts of Kiambu and Nairobi.
In a statement posted on X on February 19, 2026, the Kiambu County Senator described scenes of devastation in Ruiru, Githurai and nearby areas, where traders allegedly woke up to find their stalls destroyed and businesses reduced to ashes.
“Shops burn, stalls flatten, and livelihoods vanish, all in the name of development,” Thang’wa said.
Calls for Humane Relocation
While acknowledging the need for infrastructure projects such as roads, organised markets and urban order, Thang’wa insisted that development must not trample on the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
He urged authorities to adopt humane relocation strategies that protect small-scale traders from abrupt displacement.
“Development that destroys the poor amounts to oppression,” he stated.
Criticism of Government Approach
The senator also pointed to what he termed as a troubling pattern under President William Ruto’s administration.
“Handouts in broad daylight for cameras, and bulldozers and fire in the dark,” Thang’wa said. “You cannot uplift hustlers while crushing their only source of income.”
His remarks appear to question the balance between pro-hustler political messaging and enforcement actions affecting informal traders.
The demolitions have sparked renewed debate over how urban development projects are implemented, particularly in densely populated areas where informal businesses thrive.
Critics argue that while modernisation is necessary, authorities must ensure adequate notice, public participation, and alternative trading spaces for affected traders.
As the controversy unfolds, pressure is mounting on both county and national authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the demolitions and outline plans for relocation or compensation.
