Slum evictions need better planning

Government plans to relocate the hundreds of thousands of people in Nairobi living on riverbanks have not yet taken off more than a year after they were announced. Environment minister John Michuki and other Cabinet colleagues got a clear directive from Prime Minister Raila Odinga: Demolish the 16,046 structures built on riparian zones and move 130,000 people. An initial budget of Sh1.4 billion was even set aside to pay for relocation to new homes. But the political ramifications of such an undertaking seem to have stayed the Government’s hand, earning a reprieve for residents of Kibera, Mukuru, Mathare and other settlements along Nairobi River.

This is a project that must run in tandem with evictions from all other reserves, such as on railway or oil pipeline land. Instead, the prospect of disorderly forced removals looms. Slum residents are at risk of losing their homes with no assistance in finding new ones this week as Kenya Railways Corporation prepares to clear a 100-foot reserve along its lines.

On March 21, the State-owned Kenya Railways issued a notice in daily newspapers giving those living on railway reserve land across the country 30 days to pull down their houses and leave. Anybody defying the notice — a large number given the short period — can expect forceful eviction and prosecution. The test of the parastatal’s resolve will begin in two days time, when the notice runs out.

Human activity

Kenya Railways has a good argument: Human activity has long been the cause of costly delays or accidents. Not too long ago, several people were killed in Mashimoni when a train derailed due to debris on the track. There have also been cases of people injured or killed crossing railway lines. It, however, does not have as good a plan to fix the problem.

Many people have built homes and livelihoods on the land and if forcefully evicted are likely to lose property, shelter and incomes. It is almost certain they will resist a forceful eviction after such short notice. Rather than allow this situation to get out of hand, KRC is best advised to seek the Government’s help in relocating people.

Human rights and civil society organisations want President Kibaki to stop eviction plans. They warn that experience has shown such actions lead to human rights violations. Consultations with the residents affected, adequate notice and alternatives are required. This situation mirrors that in the nation’s forests where confusion over evictions was also evident. A carefully prepared plan to remove settlers from the Mau and other forests was briefly upstaged by a directive from the Forestry ministry requiring speedy, unplanned removals. Reason prevailed, however. The same should happen in this instance: Let us implement the Cabinet-approved plan to get slum dwellers off road, rail, pipeline and riparian reserves.

The Government has capacity to tackle such huge undertakings as it has demonstrated in cleaning up Nairobi River. While there is still much to be done, the tributaries passing through the city now have less garbage or pollutants. The same collaboration by multiple ministries is required to ensure the removal of people on various reserves is orderly.

Removal of people from riversides and railway lines needs to be part of slum upgrading plans. Co-ordinated efforts will produce better results than anything one State institution can achieve. The 17 ministries marshalled to Nairobi River’s clean up by Raila are a good example of what is needed for such initiatives. Even private sector and bilateral partners have a role to play, as proven with their support for the clean up.

Time to move

Kenya Railways risks attracting the opposition of the political leaders who rely on the vote from such densely populated areas to get into power. Their incitement of residents to resist eviction and relocation could make it imposs-ible for even a reasonable plan to be implemented. We have already seen this with slum upgrading in Nairobi, leading to many wasted years before it was back on track. It will not do to have similar setbacks for other relocation plans.

Rather than threaten to bring bulldozers and lawsuits to those on railway land, KRC should give them enough time to move.