Evictions are once again displacing hundreds—this time in Korogocho slum—amid relentless rains as the poor bear the brunt of city development.
Korogocho residents are being kicked out to pave the way for the Nairobi River Regeneration Project, a government-led initiative intended to reclaim riparian land and create a 60-metre buffer zone along the river. The eviction notices have landed like a storm within a storm.
“I’ve lived here all my life. This land was passed down to me by my parents,” said Elizabeth Wangui, a local landlord who owns around 40 rental units in the area.
“If they extend 30 meters, where will my tenants and I go? There’s no talk of compensation, just orders to leave.”
The eviction, being executed with visible resistance from locals, follows a public notice issued in March by the Nairobi county government.
The notice outlined plans for the 60-metre zone—comprising a 30-metre riparian corridor and an adjacent 30-metre development area—to stretch from Naivasha Road to Ruai. The goal is to develop a Local Physical Development and Land Use Plan to support environmental renewal and infrastructure.
But communication from government officials has been inconsistent. While the published notice refers to the project as a Special Planning Area (SPA), some residents say officials on the ground have framed it as an affordable housing project—raising fears that the evictions may serve more than environmental purposes.
Earlier this month, frustrated landlords and tenants disrupted a public meeting organised by the Housing ministry, demanding clarity and assurances. Many say they were never consulted and have been left in the dark about compensation or resettlement options.
“This is my source of livelihood,” Wangui said.
“How can they just show up and push us out like this?”
The situation echoes recent events in Embakasi, where agents of the Kenya Pipeline Company forcefully evicted a community from land it claimed, also amid heavy rains. KPC defended its actions as a safety measure to protect its pipeline wayleave, citing the risk of fire or oil spills if settlements were allowed to continue unchecked.
“While regrettable, evicting the illegal settlers is necessary to avert potential catastrophes,” said KPC pipeline wayleave manager Stanley Manduku. He added that the company had conducted public barazas and issued notices prior to the evictions.
Now, similar scenes are playing out in Korogocho, where entire families face an uncertain future as their homes are flattened under grey skies.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has joined the growing chorus of protest. In a petition submitted to the Senate, he accused the county government of bypassing community engagement and ignoring basic principles of fairness.
“The residents of Korogocho are not against development or environmental restoration,” Sifuna stated. “But they deserve fairness, dignity, and a seat at the table where decisions about their lives are made.”
While he acknowledged the potential benefits of the Nairobi River Corridor initiative—such as flood mitigation and ecological renewal—Sifuna stressed that such goals must not come at the cost of people’s dignity and survival.
His petition highlighted several grievances: poor public participation, lack of compensation, intimidation during eviction, and failure to provide alternatives to the affected.
Many residents now say the process feels rushed and indifferent to the generations who have lived and worked in these areas. As the rains continue, so does the fear—of being left with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
“It is unacceptable that a community is evicted without adequate notice, public participation, or clarity on compensation,” Sifuna said.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Evictions, however lawful or well-intentioned, must be humane. Authorities must prioritise alternatives before demolition begins. Development and dignity must not be mutually exclusive.
by GORDON OSEN
