This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
On May 4, 2020, the Kenyan government forcibly removed over 8,000 residents from their homes in Kariobangi and Ruai, leaving them without shelter or basic necessities.
According to UN officials, the government had been warned to halt all evictions during the Covid-19 crisis and protect human rights activists who were under threat for defending evictees.
UN special rapporteurs Balakrishnan Rajagopal and Mary Lawlor expressed concern over the recent evictions, stating that destroying homes without alternative accommodation constitutes a grave violation of the right to housing.
They also highlighted the exacerbation of the pandemic's impact on the rights to health and life for thousands of Kenyans.
Despite the government's announcement of a moratorium on evictions, reports indicate that new evictions were conducted in the past few days, leaving thousands of people homeless and in need of urgent assistance.
On May 15, over 1,500 people were forced out of their homes in Ruai at night, during curfew hours and in heavy rains, without being provided with shelter.
UN experts called on the Kenyan authorities to stop further evictions, provide assistance to the evictees, and guarantee their rights to shelter, food, water, and sanitation.
They also emphasized the need for a long-term solution to the housing needs of the affected families, with their full participation.
