Njeru Town moves to evict 500 vendors

Njeru Municipal Council has ordered about 500 people operating kiosks in the town to vacate before Monday to avoid forceful eviction.
Ms Sharifa Nakintu, the municipal town clerk, explained that the eviction is overdue because the vendors had earlier been given a grace period of over four months to relocate to other areas but they have remained adamant.
The relocation of the vendors is to pave way for commencement of the beautification of the town in line with the municipality’s approved physical plan.
“We have already directed the district police commander to coordinate the eviction starting Monday. Kiosks are all over the Jinja-Kampala highway, making the town look very disorganised yet we have a physical plan that will see it beautified,” Ms Nakintu told the municipal council budget conference on Wednesday.
“The highway must be clear without any obstacles. We want to plant trees and beautify this place. To that effect, I urge all the kiosk owners to quickly abide by the set deadline to avoid being inconvenienced,” she added.
The town clerk warned that it will be very costly for the vendors to get back their kiosks once the law enforcement officers confiscate them on Monday.
“We already have space at Nile Market where the vendors can be accommodated,” Ms Nakintu advised.
However, Mr Fred Kabagambe, the councillor representing Kizungu Zone, said the town authorities did not conduct sensitisation campaigns before passing the eviction deadline.
“This will be very unfair to vendors as it will disrupt many businesses. These people should have first been sensitised and given time to relocate before they are forced away,” Mr Kabagambe said.
Mr Steven Koboi, the chairperson of Nile Market where the vendors are to be relocated, claims the area is in a mess and needs renovation before the group is brought.
“I do request the town clerk and her team to pay a visit to this market to assess the conditions before they roll out their plan. The market is overcrowded, muddy and disorganised. We need to first clear this place,” Mr Koboi said in an interview with this newspaper.
Mr Sadat Bogere, who revealed that he has spent more than 15 years operating a kiosk, said he has no place to relocate his business.
“The council should find a better place for the vendors and not the disorganised Nile market,” Mr Bogere said.