The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has launched a demolition exercise along the 84-kilometre Kisii–Kadongo and Kadongo–Ahero (A1) Road, targeting structures that had been erected illegally within the road reserve.
The operation, carried out by KeNHA's Corridor D Management Team on July 16, focused on four major trading centres along the highway: Nyamataro, Nyakoe, Misambi and Kadongo.
Bulldozers moved into the affected areas, bringing down unauthorized structures that the authority said had encroached on the road reserve.
Images from the exercise showed traders and residents watching as buildings and other structures were demolished after years of occupation.
Among the structures removed were unauthorized buildings, illegal signboards and access culverts that had been constructed without approval from KeNHA.
For many traders, the road reserve had gradually become an extension of their business premises, despite regulations prohibiting construction within protected highway corridors.
KeNHA dismissed claims that traders were not given adequate notice before the demolitions, stating that a 30-day eviction and demolition notice had been issued on May 28.
The authority added that the notice was followed by a public awareness campaign and stakeholder engagement in the affected areas before the demolitions commenced.
“The exercise followed a public sensitization campaign in the affected areas and the issuance of vacation notices to encroachers,” KeNHA stated.
According to the authority, the exercise was aimed at protecting the road reserve for both current use and future infrastructure expansion projects.
KeNHA also noted that the demolitions form part of its ongoing road safety improvement programme, which seeks to reduce accidents and improve the smooth flow of traffic along the highway.
The authority explained that some structures had been built too close to the road, obstructing motorists' visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.
It also raised concerns over access culverts constructed without approval, saying they pose safety risks and can interfere with proper drainage along the highway.
KeNHA has urged members of the public to avoid encroaching on road reserves and to obtain the necessary approvals before constructing access culverts or installing signage near national roads.