The Nairobi Metropolitan Services has received a nod from the court to demolish houses in Nyayo Estate, Ruaraka.
The eviction will leave 10,000 city residents homeless in what is termed as a slum upgrade project undertaken by the National Government through NMS.
This comes as a major blow to the residents who had moved to court to stop the demolitions. This will pave way for the construction of affordable houses and a new sewerage plant.
The estate is located close to the Korogocho and Kariobangi slums. Kariobangi experienced its fair share of demolitions in May 2020, which left over 8,000 people homeless.
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People salvage property after their houses were demolished in Kariobangi Slums in May 2020. |Photo| Courtesy|
The residents had sought to keep NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, Police Inspector General and Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation from carrying out the project.
In their petition to the court, the residents stated that they had resided on the land for over 30 years, with the estate having been established by the late President Daniel Arap Moi in 1997.
Justice Justice Kossy Bor dismissed their application stating that they failed to provide proof of ownership for the land.
A surveyor who testified in court stated that he had noticed that several parcels of land set aside for the construction of sewerage and water treatment plants were being grabbed or encroached.
"Athi Water Agencies were called upon to mark the boundary at the Kariobangi sewerage treatment plant and it emerged from that exercise that several permanent and semi-permanent dwellings had been constructed on the suit land being L.R. No. 8285/161 measuring approximately 75 acres registered in the name of the City Council of Nairobi," the surveyor stated.
NMS has embarked on the rehabilitation and construction of housing units across Nairobi County. Demolition of old houses will, however, be done in phases.
Houses under phase one are nearing completion in the following estates; Pangani, Jevanjee/Bachelors Quarters, Old Ngara, New Ngara, Ngong Road Phase 1, Ngong Road Phase 2, and Suna Road sites.
NMS revealed that phase two will include; Woodley, Ziwani, Bahati, Maringo, Jericho, Lumumba, Bondeni, California, Embakasi, and Kariobangi North.
Tenants of the current estates will be allowed to purchase the units through a Tenant Purchase Scheme over a period of time while some will be retained for rental purposes by the Nairobi City County.
Affordable housing units under construction. |Photo| Courtesy|
