Residents of a Nairobi slum over the weekend violently chased out Government officials affiliated to the Kenya Urban Roads Authotity (KURA) who had gone to demolish their homes.
The officials allegedly went to the Deep Sea slums in Westlands with two lorries and a tractor to take down iron sheet structures which were occupying a road reserve. They however had to run for their lives and drove off after the residents threatened to stone and injure them.
The armed residents dared the officials to progress in their mission or face their wrath. The dwellers claimed they had not been fully compensated by the Government therefore would not move from the area.
"We have not received anything. I own a shop and two houses here, so for them to come and tell me to leave without telling me where exactly they want me to go is unfair," said Ruth Kyalo, one of the aggrieved dwellers who claimed to have stayed on the land for more than 10 years.
In a notice to the inhabitants, KURA had advised them to vacate the area by January 8 so that the contractor could take over the site.
According to Director General KURA, Engineer Silas Kinoti, they had been in constant discussion with the residents and had come up with a settlement agreement only for some occupants to cry foul.
"I do not understand why they got so violent. We had talked about the issue for more than a year now. We have even compensated them so I do not know who is inciting them," said Mr Kinoti.
He further stated that they would restrategise and come up with suitable ways to sort out the problem and come up with an agreement to satisfy the aggrieved persons.
