Protests as Uasin Gishu demolishes advertising boards

Uasin Gishu County on Thursday deployed bulldozers to demolish all business signages and advertising boards sparking an uproar from residents.

Traders protested angrily as county officials supervised the demolition of the advertising boards on all buildings in the town's CBD.

The traders were caught by surprise with many of them arguing that they had paid for the signages every year as a requirement by the county government.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Kipkorir arap Menjo accused the county of harassing traders in the name of preparing for city status for Eldoret town and the forthcoming devolution conference.

"This kind of destruction is immoral. It is the brutality of the highest order by the county against its own people," said Menjo.

He said the county had been carelessly handling traders in a manner that was pushing many people to poverty.

During the last financial year, the county collected more than Sh98 million from the business signages which have now been demolished.

During the operation, the signages and advertising boards were removed from banks, hotels, supermarkets and all other small and large-scale businesses.

County Secretary Edwin Bert and Revenue Officer Joseph Lamai did not respond to calls from the Star to comment on the matter.

The demolition comes a few months after the county closed down the main market in the town pushing more than 1,000 traders out of business.

The town is to host the devolution conference next month with more than 10,000 guests expected.

The county has also issued notices to jua kali artisans in some parts of the town to vacate or be removed forcefully.

"We thought they were planning for a devolution conference but it seems we are set for a demolition conference," said Menjo.

Another trader Jane Kimaiyo said the business environment in Eldoret was no longer conducive for any investor with the county frequently making unilateral and hurting decisions against residents.

County officials who declined to be named said some of the signages demolished were substandard and had been elected in the wrong locations.

However, the affected traders said the county should have issued them with notices before the demolitions.