Residents of the Kosovo area in Mathare are in pain as they count losses following their house demolitions. The incident, which the government claims is a bid to secure the riparian land, has left many homeless.

Human Rights defenders have criticized the demolitions, terming them as insensitive and inhumane.

People are walking back home in the evening to find their homes demolished. Last evening, people in this area slept in the cold. Children are not going to school. And all this is happening just a few days after floods traumatized the residents. Wanjira Wanjiru, a Human Rights Defender.

Residents dug through the debris of the demolished houses, trying to salvage their belongings. The government ordered the demolition of all structures within 30 meters of the Mathare River.

According to the government, the exercise was meant to avert further losses of lives from flooding. However, it has turned into a nightmare.

My house was a four-story building. I was not given any notice; I speak with a lot of pain. I am sleeping outside. To build this house, I secured a loan of 3.5 million from the bank. Nelson Mwangi, a Mathare resident, lamented.

Kenya Human Rights Commission, KHRC, has also criticized the government and asked it to stop the exercise and help those affected.

They argue that residents should have been notified or given more time to vacate and that the government should have been ready to offer alternative housing solutions.

What is happening here is a breach of human rights. Said Cornelius Oduor, The Deputy Executive Director of KHRC.

The commission also highlighted that the demolitions have been discriminative. Only buildings in informal settlements have been demolished, while others constructed elsewhere within similar proximity to the river have been spared.

It is good to have equality in the demolitions. Let it not be seen that the government is quick to demolish in Mathare than in other areas. Irene Soila, the program Advisor, KHRC.

Ongoing demolitions in Mathare

The residents are asking for support and assistance from the government and well-wishers. People with disabilities are among those yet to receive any humanitarian support.

There is unfairness and a lack of transparency in how the ten thousand shillings are distributed. Cornelius Oduor added.

It’s been more than three days since the demolitions started. While the exercise is meant for good, the manner of its execution has left many in the cold, and they don’t know where to start again.