Mombasa: Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki and Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi have condemned the forceful demolition of 170 houses at the Changamwe National Housing Estate despite the existence of a court order, warning that the ODM leadership could reconsider its support for the broad-based government arrangement over what they termed a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
According to Kenya News Agency, more than 800 families at the Changamwe National Housing Estate were jolted from their sleep by a heavy police contingent in the early hours of Sunday morning. The estate is set to be redeveloped by the government. Attempts by local leaders to persuade the police to allow affected tenants time to salvage their belongings were ignored as an excavator tore into the estate, its massive steel bucket crashing through rooftops and walls while frantic tenants scrambled to rescue household items from the collapsing houses. Anti-riot police also lobbed teargas canisters to disperse angry residents and leaders protesting the
demolition.
Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi stated that County Housing officials had issued a one-month eviction notice without consulting local leaders or conducting public participation. He emphasized the need for negotiations, noting that court injunction orders had been obtained. Mwinyi disclosed that 34 tenants had received relocation money ranging from Sh4,000 to Sh10,000, which he termed as insufficient and insulting, considering that most residents had lived in the estate for over three decades. He stressed that tenants should have been involved in the process, particularly as many have children attending nearby schools, and the abrupt demolition could disrupt their education and jeopardize their performance in national examinations.
The legislator also criticized the police for allegedly arriving with individuals from a neighbouring constituency who looted property from some houses before being confronted by angry tenants. Mwinyi expressed frustration with the current government arrangement, suggesting th
at the lack of involvement and consideration for local views indicated that they might still be in opposition. He remarked that if they were truly part of the government, they would not be punished along with their constituents.
Senator Mohamed Faki highlighted the irony of Kenya being a signatory to international conventions against forced displacement while tenants were forcibly evicted despite a valid court order. He questioned whether National Housing and the Police were above the law, given the disregard for the court’s decision. Faki urged authorities to engage local leaders to find an alternative solution and resolve the stalemate amicably.
The chairman of the tenants, Meshack Okeyo, expressed support for government development projects but insisted that evictions should be conducted humanely. He mentioned a prior agreement with Housing Department officials to suspend eviction notices, only to face police supervision of the demolition unexpectedly. Okeyo called for a halt to the action to allow for d
iscussions, emphasizing that the community did not want anyone to be hurt.
Dominic Mariga urged the Head of State to take decisive action against officials who might be overstepping their powers.
