Court declines to stop planned evictions in Nairobi estates

A Nairobi court has dismissed a case seeking to stop the eviction of city residents living on public land reserves.

Justice Elijah Obaga ruled that the application filed by Katiba Institute has no merit, therefore, paving way for the planned evictions.

The targeted areas include Kaloleni, Makongeni, Mbotela, Mutindwa, Dandora, Kenyatta University villages, Lang’ata and Wilson-South C link road reserve.

The residents, through Katiba institute, had argued that the evictions will affect learning, church services and businesses.

They further claimed that the National Buildings Inspectorate secretary and chairman of the Multisectoral Committee on Unsafe Structures, Moses Nyakiongora has no powers to issue an eviction notice regarding buildings on public land reserves.

In the petition, the residents said the notice did not adhere to the procedures laid down in law and instead exposes them to forced eviction.

The residents further argued that people would be rendered homeless, students’ right to education would also be undermined if the government goes on with the exercise.