Brute force used in slum evictions, says Amnesty International report

From left: The Director Amnesty International (AI) Kenya Justus Nyang`aya, AI Head of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Policy Team Iain Byrne and Beatrice Wanjiru, a resident of City Carton slum, during celebrations to mark the World Habitat Day at the Kenya Institute of Education Monday. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

By LONAH KIBET

Residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements face constant threats of forceful eviction, a new report has shown.

The report titled “We are like rubbish in this country: Forced Evictions in Nairobi, Kenya,” focusing on two informal settlements, highlights the brutality used by police officers and hired goons to enforce the evictions.

The survey was carried out in the Deep Sea and City Carton slums by Amnesty International (AI) researchers.

Investigations show that City Carton slum residents were forcefully evicted in the middle of the night on May 10 this year without notice.

“On May 10, approximately 200 men arrived at City Carton accompanied by 170 police officers. The men, who were reportedly hired by an agent of an institution that claims to own some or part of the land, proceeded to use hammers, crowbars, and machetes to demolish most of the homes in the settlement,” reads the report.

It adds that a week later, on May 17, at least 100 men returned to the settlement to demolish the remaining houses and fence off the area.

The reports also says live ammunition and teargas were used by the police during the evictions.

According to Beatrice Wanjiru, an affected resident, there was also looting of personal property and beating up of residents during the exercise.

“Pregnant women and children were also pulled out of their houses, beaten and left outside in the cold. It happened during the rainy season. Anything valuable was also taken from us,” said Wanjiru, who has resided in the area for over 50-years.

The slum, near Wilson Airport, hosted over 400 families. According to the report, those with nowhere to go have been forced to live along a dirt track beside the demolished shelters constructed using bamboo and cardboard.

Forcibly evicted

“Lacking access to adequate water and sanitation facilities, the forcibly evicted families are living in extremely precarious circumstances that pose serious risks to their health and safety,” revealed the report.

Amnesty International found out that the demolition of the homes had no legal basis, and the police didn’t stop the eviction or protect residents.

The report further shows how over 3,000 settlers of Deep Sea risk being evicted in the coming months, as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) plans to construct a major road through the settlement with funding from the European Union.

Although the residents have been aware of the project since 2009, information has been scanty on whether they will be resettled.

“The residents had been informed about the impending eviction but they have no information on when the road constructions will start and if resettlement options may be offered to them. The absence of adequate information and meaningful engagement to date on the part of Kura has increased anxiety and uncertainty for the residents,” reads part of the report.

Diana Ang’aya, a resident of Deep Sea slum, said that leaders only come to them when they need votes.

“Viongozi wakishapata chenye wanataka tunabaki na shida zetu. Wengine wanaona wamepata mahali pa kuweka biashara zao. (After the leaders get what they want we become irrelevant to them. They see the little land we have as a space to put up their businesses)” said Ang’aya amidst cheers from the crowd.

Kenya AI Campaigner Naomi Barasa said the country being a signatory to the International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights should adhere to due process when any eviction is being done. She said the Covenant clearly states that an eviction must be carried out as the last resort and compensation should be offered.