By Shaban Omar
More than 100 business people operating at Chandarana along Diani Beach Road in Kwale County are seeking government intervention after receiving an eviction notice from a private developer.
The traders say they are not opposed to vacating the land but are demanding an alternative place to operate, arguing that they have been running their businesses at the site for over 25 years.
Led by Anna Agness, the group said the notice has given them little time to prepare and they now face the risk of losing their livelihoods.
“We are not refusing to leave, but the government and the investor should provide us with a clear way forward. We also pay taxes and deserve to know where we will operate from after this,” Agness said.
She added that if they are evicted forcefully without a relocation plan, many families will be left struggling to survive.
Agness appealed to the investor to grant them more time to continue operating as they seek alternative solutions.
She noted that the eviction notice comes during the high season, making the seven-day deadline unrealistic for businesses that rely heavily on tourism.
Another trader, Johnson Mwanzia, said the directive poses a serious threat to their livelihoods.
“We depend entirely on these businesses, and being forced to vacate immediately will disrupt our lives. If I’m told to leave so suddenly, where do I take all my goods? We need adequate time to plan. After all, we are human beings,” he said.
Mwanzia added that he has a family depending on the business and moving out without a proper plan would not only jeopardize his livelihood but also the future of his children.
A trader Johnson Mwanzia addresses the media at Chandarana in Diani, Kwale County on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Benedict Lumumba, another trader, said the investor has always been a good friend to them, and he is puzzled by the sudden turn of events.
He noted that the eviction notice did not come directly from the developer but through third parties, which has left many traders confused.
Lumumba urged the investor to engage them in dialogue and explore alternative solutions that would allow both sides to support one another.
Brita John appealed to the Kwale Governor and other local leaders to intervene in the matter.
She acknowledged that the traders do not own the land and that the private developer has the right to reclaim it, but stressed that as Kenyan citizens, they deserve to be treated with dignity.
John further noted that for years, the business community has helped safeguard the investor’s property and contributed to improved security in the area.
She added that, like any other group facing eviction, they should be guided and given an alternative place to operate.
“At Ibiza some traders were evicted but directed to other place and we are not different from them,” she said.
