The residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga were shocked and distressed as the demolition and eviction process, initiated by the government, commenced in the Sepu region of their slum despite the stay order.
Pictures of chaos and panic are seen at the Riara Zone as bulldozers rolled in to demolish iron-sheet houses. Videos and pictures posted on social media show residents trying to salvage whatever they can their mattresses, utensils, and roofing material in the clouds of dust and presence of security.
The demolitions have raised serious questions, considering that they happened only weeks after the Environment and Land Court had ordered a conservatory order that barred eviction, demolitions, or any form of interference in the disputed land. The order was the result of a conservatory order that was ordered earlier this month.
Despite this, security personnel reported to have entered the region early in the morning, instructing residents to vacate from their dwellings. There was a substantial presence of the police force at Riara during the demolitions.
By midday, dozens of families had been made homeless. Photos from the scene showed residents carrying iron sheets that were twisted out of shape and timber that had been broken down, which were all that was left of their homes.
The incident happened just days after President William Ruto handed over the keys to homes during the handover ceremony at the Mukuru Kwa Njenga Affordable Housing Project. In the ceremony that took place on December 18, the President handed over the keys to 4,500 fully furnished housing units, following the first handing over exercise that took place in May this year when the President handed over the key to 1,080 housing units. The project, when completed, will construct a total of 13,248 housing units.
The government has repeatedly emphasized that the Mukuru project is intended to help move this population from the slums into decent and modern living conditions, as part of an overall master plan to upgrade slums into comprehensive residential areas.
However, Tuesday’s demolitions have brought back debate about the cost at which redevelopment is done. There have been several demolitions within Mukuru Kwa Njenga within recent years.
In Makongeni, residents have been relocated from their homes for the redevelopment of low-cost housing areas. In May 2024, riparian housing constructed along the land next to the Ngong River was demolished by presidential order to reduce flood-related risks.
The area has also undergone massive demolitions in the construction of the Nairobi Expressway and the expansion of Catherine Ndereba Road, leaving more than 40,000 people displaced.
As families affected by the destruction count their losses, calls are emerging for the relevant authorities to clarify not only the reasoning behind the destruction carried out despite an outstanding court order but also the short-term measures proposed for those rendered homeless and accommodated in Mukuru Kwa Njenga.