Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna has filed a petition in the Senate over the Nairobi City County Government's plan to evict Korogocho residents following the declaration of the Nairobi River Corridor as a Special Planning Area.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, April 16, Sifuna acknowledged the benefits of this declaration but noted that the lack of public participation was unfair and undignified.
According to Sifuna, this clear disregard of the opinions of the residents, some of whom have lived in the area for decades, was what they were against.
"The residents of Korogocho are not against development or environmental restoration. However, they deserve fairness, dignity and a seat at the table where decisions about their lives are made," Sifuna stated.
"It is unacceptable that a community is evicted without adequate notice, public participation, or clarity on compensation. We are dealing with human beings who have lived in these areas for decades."
The petition features over 30 signatures from the residents and highlights several grievances, including inadequate public participation and intimidation during eviction processes.
They also raised concerns about unresolved compensation claims and a lack of commitment to resettle those already evicted.
According to the residents, efforts to engage the county government and the Nairobi City County Executive Committee have failed several times.
In a last-ditch effort, they took their claims to the Senator, hoping for a resolution which would include, among others, humane evictions, compensation and meaningful community involvement in all planning decisions.
The petition has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources for consideration.
In early March, the county government issued a special notice inviting members of the public to submit their views on the planned evictions within two weeks.
The County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Patrick Mbogo, announced that the designated area would cover a 60-metre buffer zone beyond the high-water mark on each side of the river, comprising a 30-metre riparian corridor and an additional 30-metre development area.
The corridor will extend from Naivasha Road to Ruai, including its tributaries, and will enable the preparation of a Local Physical Development and Land Use Plan that will provide a framework for river regeneration, flood hazard mitigation, and riparian land-use redevelopment of the land.
