A self-help group dealing in small medium entrepreneurial business. Such a group in Athi River was oppressed early today.[Photo/News Letter]
A group of youth in Athi River are reeling in pain as they count big losses after their business premises were destroyed by unknown people last night.
The currently dejected lot has been selling different tree seedlings and making concrete products on a half an acre communal land near Athi River interchange for the last five years.
According to the youth’s representative Anthony Musyoka, the self-help group has been earning their daily bread honourably until last night when an intruder group of armed youth escorted a tractor to destroy their sources of livelihood.
“The rowdy youth terrorized the victims and their guards in the 2 am melee today,” said Musyoka.
“Concrete products such as culverts, flower vessels, hundreds of packets of cement and other raw materials were completely destroyed,” continued the representative.
Tree seedlings and flowers were flattened by the tractor leaving the more than 30 youths without a source of food.
According to Musyoka, the self-help group has lost more than Sh2 million leaving most of the members of the self-initiative program unable to come to terms with the loss weeping uncontrollably.
The victims claim they are a target for unscrupulous businessmen who want to occupy the space for self-gains. They are now calling on the government to protect them to build their lives once again.