Why public toilets near National Archives were demolished

An aerial view of demolished public toilets next to the Kenya National Archives along Moi Avenue. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

A busy toilet located around the National Archives area in Nairobi City centre was demolished on Friday night.

According to witnesses, the facility was brought down by county officers in the wee hours in what has been linked to management wrangles.

Part of the building was hosting a chain of business including shops, shoes shining stalls that were flattened and some items looted leaving some traders counting losses.

Nairobi CBD Member of County Assembly John Kwenya said he was not aware that there were plans to bring down the facility even as some traders accused him of not being concerned on issues affecting them.

“The demolition is linked to the management of the toilets that have been persistent for many years, but it is wrong to do at night when traders whose items were in some shops are away,” Peter Njoroge.

“Two more toilets are set to be demolished along Accra road and River-road,” added Njoroge, a former member of a self-help group that initially managed the facility.

Alex Mbuthia, a trader, blamed elected leaders for being part of the problem including eyeing to control the toilets and shoe shining booths.

For many years, there have been fierce fights over the control of about 27 public toilets in the city with some resulting in protests.

Before they were rehabilitated, the facilities had remained under disuse after they were neglected by City Hall. Some became safe havens for criminals while others had been turned into abodes for street families.

They only became useful after being revamped and put under private management spearheaded by organised self-help groups that keep fighting over control due to the millions at stake.