Residents of Soweto, Nairobi are expressing frustration over the government’s handling of the directive to demolish structures erected on riparian land.
They report not having received the promised compensation of sh.10, 000 from the state.
Living in the Riverbank area, residents are gripped with anxiety as the demolition process initiated last month has rendered some homeless.
Resorting to self-demolition using hammers, they salvage materials like bricks before authorities deploy excavators.
Community leader Robert Kihara voices discontent, stating they were not informed beforehand about the demolition plans.
“We have not been given any notice, and even if we are given, where do we go from here?” he laments.
Residents argue that the demolition has extended beyond the designated 30-meter limit from the river, with authorities demolishing homes well beyond the marked boundary.
“They come to mark our homes, and they are beyond the marked 30-meter line,” one resident asserts.
They also claim that vital social amenities such as schools and churches have fallen victim to the demolition spree.
However, the area chief rebuts these claims, asserting that notices were issued well in advance.
According to the chief, residents, particularly those near Ngong River, were expected to relocate before the demolition commenced.
The government’s directive follows the aftermath of devastating floods last month, which displaced over 200,000 individuals from their homes.
Despite the directive aiming to mitigate future risks, the execution has left many residents disillusioned and without adequate recourse.
The lack of timely compensation and alleged disregard for demarcation lines exacerbates the plight of those affected, compounding the already challenging circumstances faced by the community.
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