Mukuru Community Justice Centre condemns alleged forced evictions over affordable housing project

The Mukuru Community Justice Centre (MCJC) has condemned the planned forced evictions in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, accusing government officials of allegedly using affordable housing and infrastructure projects as a pretext to unlawfully displace residents, despite existing legal protections.

In a statement, the MCJC raised alarm over what it described as ongoing attempts by certain government officials to forcibly remove residents from Mukuru Kwa Njenga under the guise of resettling them into newly constructed affordable housing units.

The organisation asserted that the actual residents of the area are not among the selected beneficiaries of these housing allocations and alleged that the true recipients are largely unknown to the community and believed to be outsiders posing as locals.

“We categorically state that the actual residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga are not the beneficiaries of these housing units. The so-called beneficiaries remain unknown to the local community and are widely believed to be outsiders falsely posing as Mukuru kwa Njenga residents,” stated the MCJC.

"The lack of transparency in the housing allocation process is deeply troubling," the organisation added, "and raises serious concerns about corruption and misrepresentation in President Ruto's affordable housing programme."

The group argued that, without a credible verification process, it is dishonest and misleading for government agencies to suggest that genuine residents are being resettled.

"Without any form of enumeration or credible registry, it is misleading and dishonest for government agencies to claim that these units are being awarded to genuine Mukuru Kwa Njenga residents," the Mukuru Community Justice Centre stated.

The organisation also expressed concern over reports that the evictions may be carried out under the justification of constructing the Catherine Ndereba Road. According to MCJC, these infrastructure projects are being used as a cover to forcibly remove residents, while falsely claiming that those being displaced have already been relocated.

The group alleged that the real motive behind the evictions is to benefit land speculators and powerful interests, not to improve housing or road access for the community.

MCJC emphasised that the matter of land and housing rights in Mukuru Kwa Njenga is still active in court and warned that any eviction at this stage would constitute contempt of court and abuse of power. The organisation called on government officials to halt all eviction plans until the court reaches a decision.

"We are particularly alarmed that these evictions are being justified by falsely claiming that those being evicted have already been resettled in the aforementioned affordable housing units. This is not only untrue, it is a deliberate attempt to displace vulnerable communities for the benefit of land grabbers and powerful interests,” stated MCJC.

“Njenga is still active in court. Any action to evict residents at this time would be a gross contempt of court and a blatant abuse of power.”

Additionally, MCJC highlighted what it termed a troubling trend of government administrators, such as area chiefs, deputy commissioners, and national security agents, allegedly taking unlawful roles in enforcing development projects.

The organisation reminded public officials that the 2010 Constitution of Kenya limits their authority in such matters and requires all development to follow legal and transparent frameworks.

Other Topics To Read

• City Affairs
• Affordable housing project
• Affordable Housing Programme
• Mukuru Community Justice Centre
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• Mukuru kwa Njenga affordable housing project
• Mukuru Community Justice Centre condemns alleged forced evictions over affordable housing project
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MCJC called for justice for victims of past violent evictions, referencing Vincent Nyamai, who lives with a bullet in his body; Samson Odongo, who died during an eviction in December 2021; and seven-year-old Joseph Ombata, who was killed during a bulldozer operation in Mukuru Kwa Ruben in May 2024.

"We demand an immediate halt to all eviction plans in Mukuru until the court process is fully concluded," said the Mukuru Community Justice Centre. "We also call for justice for the survivors and victims of past violent eviction attempts."

MCJC urged the government to respect the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.