State has trampled on human rights in city slum evictions

Forced evictions are common, particularly in the urban slums of Nairobi.

In May, more than 7,000 people in Nairobi’s informal settlements were forcefully evicted from their homes by the State-run Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC).

The notice of eviction of Kariobangi Sewerage Farmers Slum, Korogocho Market, Kisumu Ndogo and Nyayo Village residents was served on the residents only two days to the evictions. NCWSC claims ownership of the land and says it had been illegally occupied since 2008. The Environment and Land Court’s interim orders prohibiting the forced evictions pending the full hearing of the matter was blatantly disregarded, as NCWSC proceeded with the demolitions.