A storm is brewing in Nairobi County after the City's County Assembly passed a censure motion against the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal, Lydia Mathia, over her alleged role in the recent forceful evictions witnessed in the city.
The motion, which received overwhelming support from Nairobi MCAs on Thursday, June 26, followed weeks of public outrage over what many have described as unlawful evictions that defied court orders and left scores of residents homeless.
Tabled by the Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, the censure motion cited gross misconduct, misuse of office, and violation of constitutional rights.
The CEC is accused of heading the evictions in several estates despite an active court order blocking the process until a pending case was heard.
Affected residents from several estates in the city, including Old Ngara, New Ngara, Kariako, Buruburu, Kariobangi, Woodley, and other estates, had condemned the evictions.
The residents accused the senior county official of hiring goons to demolish homes, destroy personal belongings, and terrorise families.
“I had just left City Hall when I got a call. By the time I returned, my house had been broken into, my bags had been taken, and strangers were walking around with my clothes. I had already paid my rent, and I don't understand why this is happening,” one of the affected residents from Buruburu told a journalist during the evictions.
During the heated assembly session, MCAs slammed Mathia's office for contempt of court orders, arguing that her actions violated both Article 10(2)(a) and Article 73(1)(a) of the Constitution, which mandate adherence to national values and responsibilities of public service.
“Ms Mathia's acts and omissions constitute gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, willful disobedience of a court order,” the MCAs said.
The assembly ordered accountability, describing the evictions as a disregard for human rights. They also ordered investigations into the destruction and loss of property caused by what they described as mafia directives.
They further resolved to reinstate the tenancy of those affected. While the residents had also requested compensation, the county has yet to reveal whether they will be compensated or not.
Mathia is yet to respond to the censure motion as the Nairobi County Public Service Board is gearing up to commence disciplinary actions against her.
