Dozens of families left homeless as bulldozers demolish homes in Nairobi's Kayole

Dozens of families in Nyama Villa, a settlement in Nairobi's Kayole estate, have been left homeless following a series of demolitions that began early Monday morning.

The demolitions, which have displaced scores of residents, stem from a long-standing land dispute — dating back to 2002 — between Muthithi Investments, a real estate company, and individuals allegedly occupying the land illegally.

The demolition, which unfolded with alarming speed, saw bulldozers tear through stone walls and pillars, reducing homes to rubble.

It left residents helpless and unable to salvage their belongings, with many caught completely off-guard.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking.

Residents of Nyama Villa Estate were woken early in the morning by the deafening sound of bulldozers and the presence of armed police officers.

After a brief standoff, the bulldozers, under the watchful eye of the officers, continued their destruction, leaving families with little time to react.

Home in ruins

Bishop Josiah, who had rented a house in the area for the past two months, returned from a trip to find his home in ruins.

"I just arrived this morning only to realise my house was being destroyed. I had no idea about the ongoing legal dispute. Now, I've lost everything," said a visibly distressed Josiah.

Jackline Ikoa, a resident, recalled the terrifying moments when the demolitions began.

"We had to run for our lives. The bulldozer was right next to my bed, and I almost didn't make it. We left everything behind, my children and I," she said, her voice shaking with emotion.

Community outrage

The Kayole Community Justice Centre, a local advocacy group, condemned the demolitions, particularly because some of the bulldozers arrived in the middle of the night without prior notice to residents.

"We oppose the state-sanctioned night demolitions and evictions. This morning, in the middle of the night, residents of the Nyama Villa estate had to endure this kind of demolition. Our people deserve dignity," the organisation stated.

Nominated MCA Joy Mwangi expressed frustration over the handling of the situation, noting that the affected families had only recently been informed about the dispute and had been given little time to vacate.

"The houses were built only months ago, and we were given a notice. I thank God I wasn't affected," Mwangi said, adding that many of the residents were left without options.

The ongoing conflict between a private developer and the residents remains unresolved.

The company claims that many of the occupants failed to settle payments for the land as per prior agreements.

The legal battle

In October 2023, the real estate company sought a court order to evict at least 80 families from the Nyama Villa estate, citing the unresolved land dispute. The developer clarified that the demolitions would specifically target 80 families.

The case is still at the Makadara Law Courts, with Muthithi Investments continuing to push with demolition plans.

The land in question, L.R. No. 23917, is legally owned by a private developer.

However, squatters had taken control of the land without proper legal documentation, despite earlier offers to sell.

The residents, who claim the land as their own, lost their appeal in 2015.

The developer received a court order in 2018 to evict those occupying the land, and after a temporary pause, the company resumed demolitions.

This demolition operation is not the first of its kind. A similar round of evictions was halted in 2018 after the intervention of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

At that time, more than 700 families were displaced, and over 600 residential buildings on the 23-acre piece of land were destroyed

Despite the intervention by the government, the legal battle over the land continues to have a devastating impact on residents.