Uhuru Pressured to Take Action After 7000 Families Forcefully Evicted

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi, in April 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi, in April 2020
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Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation has written an open letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta asking the government to take full responsibility for the injustices suffered by the 7,000 families who were rendered homeless after forced evictions in Kariobangi.

In the letter, the NGO listed a couple of measures that it wanted addressed by Parliament, the government, the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS), the Ministry of Housing and the Inspector General of Police.

It called upon Parliament to investigate and call to account state officials responsible for the demolition.

An ongoing session in parliament
An ongoing session in parliament
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Further, the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) was called to make legislative measures that would ensure there would be no recurrence of such demolitions at a time the country is struggling to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We call upon the Covid-19 fund authority to offer reparations and compensation to the 7,000 families who were forcefully evicted as an act of good faith to alleviate their suffering and prevent the possible spread of the virus through ensuring the vulnerable have adequate shelter and homes to stay home and safe," read part of the letter.

The international NGO also called upon the Covid-19 authority to offer compensation to the 7,000 families to alleviate their struggle.

It added that all stakeholders should act in cognizance of the need to safeguard the good health and life of all Kenyans. 

"We, therefore, condemn in the strongest terms the unlawful demolition of sewerage settlement in Kariobangi, Korogocho Market, Kisumu Ndogo and Nyayo Village 2020 that leftover seven thousand 7,000 families homeless and destitute.

"This action not only compromises their health risk due to possible exposure to Covid-19 but has also destabilized their livelihood and left all of them homeless," read an excerpt from the letter.

The organization stated that the current restrictions worsened their situation as most could not go back to their villages.

The letter came days after over 7,000 residents of Kariobangi Sewage Estate in Nairobi were left homeless after the government demolished the settlement.

The parcel of land is said to have been reclaimed because it had been reserved for sewerage facilities.

An image of demolitions at Kariobangi
An excavator carrying out demolitions at Kariobangi Sewage Estate in Nairobi on Monday, May 3.
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