Isiolo County Council has demolished all kiosks along Isiolo-Moyale highway. The move targets at cleaning the town and prepare the county ahead of the proposed transformation of the urban centre into a resort city.

Small-scale traders in the town were shocked to find their businesses in ruins after the dawn raid by council staff backed by the Administration Police officers.

Hawkers carrying out businesses along the highway were also evicted and their goods confiscated a day after the council issued a notice to the traders.

The askaris were acting after complaints from members of the public, Provincial Administration and other stakeholders who said hawking along the road was a risk to businesses, the public and traders. Some traders who ignored the notice were shocked when askaris and APs raided their makeshift structures.

An aspirant for a women representative's seat, Mas Lucy Mworia, accused the council of being insensitive to poor people especially when the parents were struggling to raise school fees. She said the council should come up with an alternative plan to resettle hawkers to enable them eke out a living.

Mworia, who addressed the hawkers at Isiolo County Council offices, said many youth were jobless and their efforts to make ends meet were being disrupted by the council. She accused the authority of lacking a clear policy on addresssing unemployment in the area. A few youths were clobbered by riot police using truncheons.