There was high drama and emotional scenes at Khayega Market in Shinyalu Constituency after a distraught businessman defiantly refused to vacate his premises during a government-led demolition exercise.
The man, overwhelmed with frustration and desperation, shouted, “Sitoki, niulieni hapa ndani!” — loosely translated to, “I’m not leaving, kill me inside here!” — as an excavator approached to bring down his shop.
The incident, which drew a large crowd of shocked residents and fellow traders, unfolded during a Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)-sanctioned operation to clear illegal structures encroaching on the Kisumu-Kakamega highway corridor.
Traders had been issued a 14-day eviction notice, which expired earlier this week.
The businessman, whose shop sold household goods and general merchandise, locked himself inside the small iron-sheet structure, yelling that the government was “destroying lives without offering solutions.”
“This is where I feed my family from. You’ve not given me land. You’ve not built for me a stall. If you must bring it down, then let it fall on me!” he cried out from inside the shop, refusing to open the door.
Onlookers watched helplessly, many in tears, as uniformed officers tried to negotiate with the man.
Others pleaded with the authorities to delay the demolition or allow him more time to salvage his stock.
Eventually, elders and local leaders intervened, managing to convince the trader to come out moments before the excavator moved in.
Despite the businessman’s resistance, the demolition proceeded, reducing his business — and years of hard work — to rubble within minutes.
The incident has since triggered public outrage, with many questioning the government’s approach to enforcement and eviction.
Local MCA candidates and human rights activists condemned the operation, citing a lack of empathy and alternative arrangements for the affected traders.
“We are not against development or road expansion,” said local resident Wycliffe Namayi.
“But surely, people cannot just be displaced like this. These traders are parents, taxpayers, and community builders.”
Efforts are now underway by area leaders to push for a temporary relocation site and emergency support for the dozens of traders affected by the demolitions.
As the dust settled in Khayega, the haunting words — “Sitoki, niulieni hapa ndani” — echoed in the minds of many, capturing the deep pain and powerlessness felt by small business owners across the country facing similar evictions in the name of development.
By Kenyans