Mbotela charcoal traders face eviction from disputed land

Mbotela Charcoal dealers Self Help Group is facing eviction by a private developer from Mbotela estate, Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Charcoal dealers in Mbotela estate, Nairobi, have expressed fears of eviction from a parcel of land they have operated from for close to 60 years.

A private developer, who claims ownership of the land, wants the 14 traders kicked out of the disputed parcel that was surrendered to them by the then Nairobi City Council. Since the 1960s the traders, some who have since died, occupied the land until October 11, 2002 when the Town Clerk gave consent for formalisation and allocation for space for their charcoal business.