UDA vice chairman Seth Panyako has asked the county government of Kakamega to open up a public road that he claims has been closed by a businessman who has erected a gate.
Panyako claims the businessman, Ramesh Kotecha, allegedly blocked people from using the road, which he claims to be an entry to a gated community.
“I’m wondering how an individual can close a public road and gate it and the county government is not doing anything,” he alleged.
“I’m giving the county government one week to open the road, failing which I will lead Kakamega residents to open the road themselves.”
He alleged that Ramesh was the one paying Nema officials to harass businessmen under the pretext that they are running clubs within a residential area, and emitting excessive noise and vibrations, yet it’s him who lives within the CBD, where he has supposedly closed a public road.
“We want the county government to call a meeting with all business people and give us a clear definition of what a residential area and CBD are. There is no way Ramesh can come and stay opposite the governor’s office and call that a residential area,” Panyako alleged.
“We will not allow some individuals to use the government agencies to frustrate Kenyans who are doing their legal business. We will not allow foreigners to come into our country and dictate what to do.
“A Kenyan cannot go to Jakarta, India to do business and chase away Indians. We will not allow this.”
Panyako further alleged that Nema is operating like a gang of criminals organised within government to harass businesspeople in Kakamega.
He said the raid did not adhere to the regulations on management of excessive noise and vibrations.
Rule No 25 requires that Nema serves the proprietor of a business premise that is producing noise and vibration beyond maximum permissible levels with an improvement notice, which he claims the agency didn’t do.
He also claimed that none of the 20 clubs raided by Nema on Friday night had been served with improvement notices as required by the regulations.
Ramesh, however, denied that he had closed a public road as claimed by Panyako.
“There is no through road in that place he is saying that I have closed one. I’m a law-abiding Kenyan who cannot do that,” he said.
He said he sought permission to place a gate at the said location because it hosts an Hindu temple and members of the public used to answer their calls of nature there.
Ramesh denied he was behind the raid by Nema officials on clubs in town.
“I even don’t know any Nema official here in Kakamega or in Nairobi. He is just out to tarnish my name,” he said.
The Nema Western regional director Anthony Aura said operations were planned by Nema headquarters and the county government.
“The operations were carried out in accordance with the law. It resulted from public complaints that clubs were creating excessive noises and vibration,” he said.
“The operation will continue until the region is safe. The operation will also continue for those still using plastic bags.”
He said he has no political scores to settle with anyone as claimed by Panyako.