Uasin Gishu Road CeC Eng. Gideon Birir at a past function. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
The county government of Uasin Gishu has begun demolishing structures that were been illegally erected on road reserves.
The exercise started on Friday with several structures along the Eldoret - Iten road and at Kimumu trading center demolished.
There was, however, drama as county enforcement officers arrested and detained a nominated MCA, Samora Michel, for allegedly trying to stop the demolitions.
The MCA, who is a close ally of governor Jackson Mandago, was later released after fellow ward representatives stormed the county headquarters and demanded that he be released.
According to Roads, Transport and Infrastructure County Executive Eng. Gideon Birir, the county is conducting the exercise in collaboration with other state agencies among them Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
Speaking in Eldoret on Saturday, Birir defended the exercise saying it was conducted by the law.
"We gave demolition notices and even those structures were marked and the owners have been given enough town to move out," noted Eng. Birir.
"What we are doing is making sure that contractors working on various road projects across the county have ample time to do their job without distractions from illegal structures," he said.