Police Deployed to Githurai After Traders Protest Night Demolitions

PHOTO | COURTESY A photo of police officers deployed to Githurai 45 on February 19, 2026.

Scores of police officers were deployed to Githurai on Thursday, February 19, after traders staged protests along Thika Road over the demolition of their businesses.

The unrest followed a night operation that saw multiple structures at Githurai 45 brought down, triggering anger among affected business owners.

Protesters lit bonfires using tyres and barricaded sections of the busy highway, prompting police intervention to restore order.

Officers, including those from the Administration Police unit, were seen patrolling the area in riot gear and armed with clubs as authorities sought to prevent further escalation between traders and those behind the demolitions.

The traders faulted the seven-day notice issued by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), arguing that the period was too short and appealing for a reconsideration of the decision.

While acknowledging the need to clear road reserves, the business owners said they had no alternative locations to relocate to.

“We are very sad because they want to demolish our businesses. We do not have the money to rent stalls in Githurai market,” one trader lamented.

Some locals further alleged that the demolitions extended beyond the stipulated 30-metre road reserve. They claimed the land was being cleared to pave the way for a private development project.

“KeNHA demolitions were to happen within a 30-metre radius of the road. What we hear now is that a private investor wants to build a mall and Airbnbs,” another resident claimed.

Earlier, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the overnight demolitions, terming them inhuman and lacking compassion. He accused the government of disregarding the dignity and livelihoods of small-scale traders.