KENYA: SLUM DEMOLITION PROTESTERS ALLEGE LAND-GRAB

When it rains, it pours. Slum dwellers in Nairobi face having no roof over their heads, as the authorities are demolishing their makeshift homes, citing concerns over safety after recent floods swelled nearby rivers.

At least 26 activists were arrested on May 8th, following protests over the pulling-down of houses in Mathare, one of the biggest slums in the Kenyan capital. Police raided the offices of the Mathare Social Justice Centre, a group that documents human-rights violations in poor urban areas. The latest reports suggest those detained have now been released on bail.

The authorities insist they’re simply trying to prevent the further loss of life. Over 250 Kenyans have already died in floods across the country. Weather forecasters have been warning about extreme conditions since late 2023, but President William Ruto refused to listen, saying the country would have average rainfall. His administration is accused of failing to be ready with a plan. Those most affected by the floods and demolitions, of course, are poor people.

Residents whose homes were flattened by bulldozers have nowhere to go and have asked the government to provide them with alternative housing. Many of them are sheltering in tents provided by humanitarian organisations. Ruto has pushed through the enactment of a housing levy to provide affordable housing to Kenyans. Many are petitioning him to ensure slum dwellers are prioritised in the affordable-housing project, but it appears his administration would rather silence activists seeking justice for the poor.

Our man Kenneth Kaigua spoke to locals and activists in Nairobi’s Mathare slum. Your insights and reactions in the comments are always appreciated.