PRESS STATEMENT: The Muungano Alliance condemns recent forced evictions in Mukuru Kwa Njenga

PRESS STATEMENT:

THE MUUNGANO ALLIANCE CONDEMNS THE FORCED EVICTION OF MUKURU KWA NJENGA

We, the undersigned organizations, condemn in the strongest possible terms the ongoing forced evictions in Mukuru kwa Njenga.

As of 17th November 2021, at least 18,988 households or 75,952 individuals have been rendered homeless – their houses and possessions bulldozed to the ground.

In the wake of the harsh economic pressure levelled on communities during the Covid lockdowns, this forced eviction is cruel and inhumane and the disruption to livelihoods, children’s education, and the community’s social cohesion will be severe.

In this press statement we set out the facts on the ground and seek to clarify misinformation circulating on the scale and nature of the evictions and the connection to the Mukuru SPA process.

Currently there is a massive police presence in Mukuru kwa Njenga to oversee the demolitions. The scale of the police presence is indicative of a directive from the State. Many of the police are wearing civilian clothes. The evictees are being threatened and prevented from converging. Some report being given 2,000 KES to vacate the site (it is unclear where the money is coming from) and the local administration is said to be telling people to go back to their villages.

Evictees gathering on a vacant plot were given two hours to vacate and organizations bringing humanitarian aid were prevented from offering assistance. Over half of the evictees have now dispersed. Finding accommodation in the neighboring Mukuru settlements has become exceedingly hard as rents have sky-rocketed in the wake of the eviction.

Youth and community members protesting locally were met with live bullets and serious injuries have been reported. Those organizing protests have been summoned by the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI). NMS has been employing youth to do the clean up in an apparent effort to quell protest.

Despite pronouncements that the eviction is being undertaken to make way for a road, it is clear the demolitions go way beyond the standard 30 meter allocation. Evictions in Mukuru kwa Njenga have cleared space up to approximately 270 meters indicating the interests of private land owners may also be behind the eviction.

It is important to note the evicted area was not included in the settlements covered by the Mukuru SPA and hence what’s unfolding in Mukuru kwa Njenga does not align with its principles and practice of community consultation and negotiated resettlement. The area was not included in the SPA because the land owner – Orbit Chemicals – the structure owners and the local administration claimed to have their own development plans.

The Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA) provides a legal basis for upgrading and a recognition by local government that conventional planning processes won’t adequately address slums’ complex challenges; and that communities’ input is critical to improve their settlements. The SPA creates space to explore new innovative and inclusive upgrading solutions

We are disheartened that government has disregarded the ample experience it has working in partnership with CSOs to manage resettlements and upgrading. Moreover, we note with dismay that forced evictions seem to happen whenever there is a change of government. Critically, The Ministry of Transport’s Resettlement Policy Framework prepared under the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) has given clear directive on compensation owed to Project Affected Persons, and it is unacceptable that government is brazenly disregarding this law.

In conclusion, we support the Mukuru residents’ call

To stop ongoing demolitions
To compensate the parties affected by the demolitions
To give land to the residents
To ensure public participation is undertaken before any works are done
To respect the Special Planning Area (SPA) proposals
To enrol school going children affected by the demolitions
To extend psychological support to those affected by the demolitions
To seek clarity from the Ministry of Housing as to who will benefit from the 13,000 social housing units to be constructed
To investigate behaviour and misconduct of officers involved the demolition including allegations of lives lost and injury sustained