Goons Raid Businesses in Eastleigh

Entrepreneurs operating at United Textile Mall on Eastleigh's First Avenue in Nairobi County are counting losses after alleged goons stormed the premises Thursday evening, demolishing structures and making away with property under the guise of an eviction.

On Thursday night, the said goons descended on the commercial facility, leaving a trail of destruction that has left traders reeling from substantial financial losses.

According to the affected traders, they have been embroiled in a dispute with their former landlord, who recently sold the property despite the tenants holding valid six-year lease agreements.

The tenants received a distress call at night alerting them about the raid, and on arrival, they found the premises heavily guarded by alleged hired goons who had taken control of the facility.

Traders operating in the mall have been left counting unimaginable losses after the attackers demolished structures and carried away property during the violent eviction attempt.

Attempts by the police to restore order were met with violence by the attackers, a situation that left several people nursing serious injuries during the confrontation.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the security of commercial properties in the area and the use of extrajudicial means to resolve property disputes.

The aggrieved traders said they were legally entitled to occupy the space under their valid lease agreements, making the forced eviction illegal. They maintain that their six-year lease agreements remain valid despite the change in property ownership.

The traders are now calling on the police to heighten security and safeguard the property from further attacks while the legal dispute is resolved through proper channels.

This comes less than a week after a devastating fire swept through Yare Business Park in Eastleigh, destroying multiple shops and resulting in losses worth millions of shillings.

The Saturday afternoon blaze began at a textile and furniture store before rapidly spreading to neighboring businesses, forcing traders to scramble to save their merchandise.

The fire incident had already left the Eastleigh business community vulnerable, with the adjacent Eastleigh Mall forced to close indefinitely due to safety concerns. Emergency response was hampered by delays, with county fire engines reportedly arriving nearly two hours after the blaze began.