Amnesty International wants Mathare slum evictions stopped

Residence of Mathare slum who were affected by the City Council of Nairobi demolition, sorts their belongings. Over 500 houses have been demolished to pave way for expansion, this was on 23/08/2015.PTOTO BY PIUS CHERUIYOT

Amnesty International (AI) now wants the county government to immediately stop the ongoing demolition of houses in Mathare slum.

More than 300 homes have already been destroyed to pave way for the expansion of Juja Road and close to 500 people forcefully evicted.

Yesterday, AI campaigner for East Africa Victor Odero, said the exercise should stop because the county administration did not follow the procedure as required by the United Nation's convention.

It is alleged that the residents were not given notice to vacate the area or given an alternative place to settle.

"These demolitions and forced evictions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and make a mockery of the commitment to end forced evictions from public land made by the National Land Commission in 2013," Mr Odero said.

Locals claim that the demolition is meant to create parking space for Moi Air Base, whose barracks is situated opposite the targeted area.

 carpentry business

Daniel Maina, a resident whose carpentry shop was destroyed in the operation, said huge tractors reduced their structures to rubble.

"Nobody warned us of what was happening. I was here doing my work when a tractor came and started destroying buildings. We were not allowed to save anything, and no matter how much we tried to plead with them, they didn't want to listen," he said while gathering iron sheets strewn on the ground; in an effort to save what is left of his carpentry business.

Mr Maina has spent three nights in the cold, and his children have sought shelter in a relatives' houses since his home was also demolished.

AI termed the demolition as a contravention of both international and domestic laws. Odero said the county government failed to explore all possible alternatives to evictions. He said Mathare residents should have been given adequate notice, information on the reason for any planned eviction and be fully consulted on alternative residences.

"As a State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other human rights treaties, Kenya has a duty to prohibit, refrain from and prevent forced evictions," Odero said.

Muthoni Kamau, who has lived in Mathare for more than 40 years, broke down as she tried to come to terms with her loss. More than 20 structures belonging to her were destroyed, and she said that her biggest disappointment is the fact that they were not notified.

But Governor Evans Kidero said he was not aware of the evictions, adding that as a government, they do not approve destroying of structures without following the right procedure.

"As a county government, we are developing a bill that will protect those who have built houses in this city. We will have to ascertain ownership of the land before bringing down any building," he said.