Nearly 50 families from Mbotela Estate in Nairobi have been stranded without homes for a month after being evicted in what they describe as an illegal move by a private developer.
The affected families, led by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, have strongly condemned the eviction, accusing the unidentified developer of disregarding a court order that had stopped the evictions.
Gakuya also criticized the government for allowing such evictions to take place and failing to provide alternative housing for the displaced families.
He did not hold back in his criticism of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and other local leaders, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the plight of Mbotela residents. He alleged that Sakaja was working with wealthy and influential individuals to displace the families.
“The governor of Nairobi knows that you are the people who voted for him, isn’t that true? But did he come to stand with you when you were being evicted? Why didn’t he show up? Because he is working with powerful, rich individuals,” Gakuya remarked while addressing the affected families.
The evictions led to demonstrations along Jogoo Road, where angry residents blocked the road in protest, causing a major traffic jam. In a dramatic show of frustration, some of them placed mattresses in the middle of the road and sat on them, while others gathered around in solidarity.
Police officers arrived at the scene on Sunday morning but did not intervene, as the demonstrations remained peaceful despite causing massive traffic disruptions.
These evictions are linked to a government plan to build affordable housing units in the Mbotela, Ahero, Mwanzi Garden, and Jamaa estate areas.
However, this project has left many families without a place to live and has also affected small-scale traders in the region. Business owners dealing in groceries, charcoal, and second-hand clothes are among those who have suffered losses due to the demolitions.
One of the traders, who joined the road protest, expressed frustration over the sudden eviction. “For years, we have lived and worked on this land. Many leaders have been in office, and they all knew we were here. So why are they suddenly coming to take it away from us now?” the trader questioned.
According to the residents, they have lived on the disputed land since the 1960s, while the private developer—believed to be behind the evictions—claims to have legally acquired the land from the Nairobi City Council in 1992.
“This land was given to us in the 1960s. But because we don’t have power or influence, they are forcefully taking it away from us,” an elderly resident lamented.
For now, the affected families remain stranded with no clear solution in sight, as they continue to demand justice and recognition of their rights to the land they have called home for decades.
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