Nairobi MCAs Censure Senior County Official Over Forced Evictions
Tension is rising in Nairobi County after the County Assembly passed a censure motion against Lydia Mathia, the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal, over her alleged involvement in recent violent and illegal evictions that have left many families homeless.
On Thursday, June 26, the motion received overwhelming backing from Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), following growing public anger over what has been widely condemned as unlawful evictions that ignored court orders.
The motion was introduced by Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, who accused Mathia of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violating constitutional rights.
He pointed out that Mathia oversaw demolitions in several Nairobi estates despite the existence of an active court order suspending the evictions until an ongoing legal matter was resolved.
Residents from areas such as Old Ngara, New Ngara, Kariako, Buruburu, Kariobangi, Woodley, and other parts of the city said the demolitions were carried out forcefully, with no notice or respect for the law.
They claimed that Mathia’s office used hired goons to destroy homes, scatter personal belongings, and intimidate families in a manner they described as cruel and unlawful.
One victim from Buruburu, who was visibly shaken, shared her experience with reporters: “I had just stepped out of City Hall when I received a distress call.
I rushed back only to find my house broken into. My bags were gone, and strangers were walking around with my clothes. I had paid my rent. I can’t understand why this was allowed to happen.”
The debate in the County Assembly turned intense, with several MCAs strongly criticising Mathia’s conduct.
They accused her of disobeying court orders and breaching provisions of the Constitution—specifically Article 10(2)(a), which upholds national values and principles of governance, and Article 73(1)(a), which deals with the responsibilities and integrity required of public officers.
“Ms Mathia’s behaviour clearly amounts to gross misconduct. It’s a direct failure to perform her duties and a deliberate disobedience of court orders,” the MCAs declared during the session.
The Assembly called for immediate accountability and described the evictions as a clear violation of human rights and the law.
They ordered investigations into the evictions, particularly looking into the destruction and loss of property that occurred. The MCAs went as far as referring to the operations as being carried out under “mafia-style directives.”
Additionally, they resolved that the affected tenants should be allowed to return to their homes, insisting that their tenancy rights be restored.
However, while some of the displaced residents have asked for compensation for their losses, the county government has not yet issued any official statement on whether compensation will be provided.
As the situation continues to unfold, Lydia Mathia has not yet publicly addressed the censure motion. Meanwhile, the Nairobi County Public Service Board is preparing to begin formal disciplinary proceedings against her.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel #JusticeforAlbertOjwang To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
