Nairobi residents from Dagoretti and Kangemi have protested a move by the Johnson Sakaja-led county to move 30 meters away on both sides of the riparian land along the Nairobi River.
The county leadership directed residents living along the city's riparian areas to move 30 metres away on both sides to caution them from the effects of the rains as the long rains begin.
Tension is gripping among the residents and landowners around the lands, who say the move by the county government is threatening the livelihoods of many of them who have lived there for years.
According to the residents, they smell malice in the orders, alleging that it is a plot to rid the thousands of families of the lands they have known as home for years.
The directive by the county is part of the measures to ensure that no life is lost during the rainy season, which sometimes causes floods, as witnessed last year. The move is also a part of the Nairobi River regeneration project.
"The affected lands have been in the hands of our members for decades, passed down through generations. This directive undermines the historical and cultural significance of these properties, effectively dispossessing rightful owners without due process," the residents argued.
According to the residents, the move to take 30 meters of land from both sides of the river meant that they were being evicted from their land, a move they are protesting.
The residents revealed that the county government surveyors have begun making new boundaries without seeking their input.
Further, they have decried that there is selective enforcement of the directive, claiming it is targeting low-income areas while sparing developments in affluent neighborhoods.
The residents have now alleged that the move is aimed at grabbing the land and leaving thousands of residents homeless. They have vowed to take their complaints to court and stage mega-demonstrations if their demands are not met.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has assured Nairobi residents in contested lands that the government will not allow forceful evictions without a proper resettlement plan for them.
The President directed that there should be proper plans to resettle residents before people are evicted in disputed areas.
“The government is aware of land disputes in many parts of the country, including Nairobi. As we seek to resolve these challenges, no eviction will be carried out until the affected families are provided with other options,” the president said.
