Residents and leaders of Makongeni, Makadara, are decrying discrimination in the ongoing evictions and demolitions in the area to clear land for the government’s Affordable Housing project.
In stark contrast to the residents’ situation, the owner of a private Garage is accused of defying the government’s order to vacate the land, while residents’ homes were already demolished.
On the morning of December 7, 2025, Makadara MP, George Aladwa, led residents whose houses had been demolished to pave the way for the government’s Affordable Housing project, demanding that the private garage be demolished.
Protesting outside the garage’s premises, Aladwa and the locals accused the owner of the Garage of defying the government orders to vacate the land.
“Nobody should be favored in the Makongeni eviction and demolition,” said Aladwa.
The MP emphasized the need and urgency to begin and complete the construction of the Affordable Housing units within two years, so that residents can return to their homes.
Residents interviewed during the protest expressed frustration that while they vacated their properties, Gadano Garage remains operational on the cleared land.
“Since everyone else has vacated the land, the garage owner should also vacate,” said one resident during a televised interview.
Another protestor suggested that the garage owner’s refusal to leave may stem from the owner's higher socioeconomic status compared with the residents.
“The owner of the garage wants to torture the poor because he is well-off,” said the local. “If we vacated the houses we owned, the garage owner should vacate his business as well.”
The residents’ protest to have authorities evict the private garage comes a few weeks after the Makongeni residents received an eviction notice to vacate by December 2, 2025.
The protest underscores growing tensions between residents and authorities over perceived favoritism in the eviction process, considering the government promised priority in the housing initiative to former occupants of the land.
