The High Court on Monday, November 4, dealt a blow to the government after it issued orders, directing that residents who were evicted from their homes, which were allegedly built on riparian land in Nairobi, be compensated.
The ruling came as a reprieve for thousands of residents who were evicted from their homes in Mathare, Gwa Kairu, Mukuru Kwa Ruben, and Kiamako in Nairobi.
Appearing before Lady Justice Anne Mogeni of the High Court, the residents challenged the government's decision to evict them without providing alternative shelter.
The judge also ruled that the government was aware of these settlements but chose to forcibly evict the residents, describing the evictions as inhumane.
The ruling is set to set tongues wagging, especially after President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (then Interior CS) visited the areas that were demolished and vowed not to allow unlawful settlements along the river banks.
The ruling is further set to revitalise impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's smear campaign against the demolition orders, which he insisted were inhumane when he was in government.
Many residents had also reported being left in the cold months after the demolitions, despite President Ruto promising that the affected residents would be settled.
This comes even as the government through other humanitarian agencies, awarded an average of Ksh10,000 to the victims towards resettlement, even as some complained that the amount was too small to cater for their immediate needs with the prevailing economic conditions.
Ruto promised that the government would use the affordable housing’s 40,000 units built in the areas to settle the families, while on a tour of the housing project in Nairobi’s Kibra estate.
‘’Here in Nairobi, we are soon announcing the construction of 40,000 units to help settle those who were displaced by the government from the flood risk areas,’’ Ruto stated.
In April this year, Ruto directed all Kenyans living in riparian lands to immediately vacate following the flooding incidents that were recorded in the country, following a Cabinet resolution.
"It is important that ahead of time, we protect the lives of people and that is why we have concluded the mapping of all areas that are in danger so that we can assist citizens to move away in time because the forecast is such that rain will continue for the foreseeable future and there is a lot of precipitation in many places," he stated.
