This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On July 15, 2019, residents of the Pangani estate in Nairobi were left homeless after the county government, led by Governor Mike Sonko, demolished their homes under the pretext of urban renewal.
Esther Passaris, a Nairobi county representative, has come out strongly against the move, describing it as inhumane and a clear disregard for the rights of the residents, particularly women and children.
According to Passaris, the residents were forced to sleep in the open after their homes were demolished in the dead of night, a move she described as a clear case of government overreach.
"I am shocked to see women and children sleeping in the cold after their homes were demolished by the county government, which is supposed to protect them," Passaris said in a statement.
The move has sparked outrage among residents, who claim that the county government did not provide adequate compensation or alternative housing for those affected.
Passaris has called on the county government to take responsibility for the actions of its officials and to provide relief to the affected residents.
On July 15, 2019, the county government had deployed a team of demolition experts to the Pangani estate, where they proceeded to demolish homes under the pretext of urban renewal.
According to eyewitnesses, the residents were given a mere five hours' notice before the demolition exercise began, leaving them with little time to salvage their belongings.
Passaris has also questioned the timing of the demolition exercise, which she described as a clear case of government overreach.
"If the county government is serious about providing housing for its residents, why did they choose to demolish homes in the dead of night?" Passaris asked.
The county government had earlier announced plans to build new homes in the area, but the move has been met with resistance from residents, who claim that they were not consulted or compensated adequately.
