The County Government of Mombasa on Sunday partially demolished several business premises including secondhand car showrooms that are said to be sitting on road reserves.
According to the county government, the traders and business owners were given notice on April 7, indicating that they needed to vacate the space as the county intended to reclaim the land, the Standard has reported.
According to the notice signed by the Chief Officer in charge of trade Abdhulwahab Mbarak, the owners were given 14 days to vacate the land.
"We wish to notify you of the closure of the showroom and repossession of the space,” read the letter in part.
Mbarak had threatened to sue those who will not comply with the notice as well as demolish their premises.
Traders, however, have not been impressed by the move and vowed to take legal action against the county government for contempt of court. The court had issued an order to bar the process on January 17, 2014 and was last extended on April 16, this year.
“It is sheer impunity by the county. We will definitely file a contempt case against the county officials that undertook this illegal act,” said Mr Harshit Rawal, the director of Corner Garage.
Director for Commission for Human Rights and Justice Rights group Julius Ogogo also criticised the demolition exercise.
He claimed some premises were spared because they are owned by people close to county officials and questioned why the county demolished the businesses after collecting tax.
“Why do they evict after they have collected their taxes,” asked Ogogo.