• The lawmakers held that the level of irresponsibility on the side of police officers is unacceptable.
• The leaders spoke a day after one person was shot dead and property worth millions destroyed following demolitions in Kahawa West.
Image: Photos: MERCY MUMO
A section of legislator from Nairobi wants parliament to summon Nairobi Metropolitan Services boss Mohamed Badi to shed light on heightened demolitions in the capital.
They alleged NMS has been conducting evictions and demolitions in humane manner – leaving thousands of residents out in the cold.
“Most of these demolitions are happening in the middle of the night when there is a curfew in effect, this shows there is a lack of transparency so as to avoid any form of recourse,” they said.
They addressed a press conference at Good Shepherd Church, Ngong road.
Their joint statement was read by Senator Johnson Sakaja.
Sakaja was flanked by Dagoretti South John Kiarie and his Embakasi North counterpart Benjamin Mwangi.
The leaders spoke a day after one person was shot dead and property worth millions destroyed following demolitions in Kahawa West.
“At the end of the day all everyone wants is to put food on the table for their families. Law enforcement institutions in their pursuit to restore order must use restrained force,” Sakaja said.
“Why are police officers using live bullets to quell demonstrations?" Sakaja posed.
The lawmakers held that the level of irresponsibility on the side of police officers is unacceptable and that they were waiting on the report from IPOA so that those found culpable of using excess force be held accountable.
“We cannot have a society where the grievances of its members are met with harsh repression from the very institutions that are meant to serve and protect them,” the statement held.
Demolitions have been carried in Chokaa, Njiru, Dandora, Githurai and Kariobangi areas, rendering more than 10,000 homeless.
January 18, 2019 more than 200 families were left homeless in Nyama Villa estate in Kayole, Embakasi Central Constituency after demolitions were carried out on a 20-acre disputed land.
March 15, 2019 houses and properties belonging to residents of Mihango ward and specifically Chokaa/Mradi area were demolished by officers from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company under the pretext that they were encroaching on the powerline wayleave.
On May 16, 2020, over 200 families lost their homes in Ruai (Mathare area) after their houses were demolished.
The exercise was carried out by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation on a claim that the land is for expansion of the sewerage system had been encroached.
In June, 2020 over 5000 city residents in Kariobangi North Ward, Embakasi North Constituency were left homeless after their houses were demolished to pave way for the expansion of the sewerage system.
It is against this backdrop that the MPs want NMS to be held accountable to the constituents they serve and so that demolitions done in the middle of the night are brought to an end.
“This has been the recurrent manner and we are demanding change in tact before we entirely descend into absolutism,” the MPs demanded.
“We will summon NMS as soon as we come from recess. Major Badi must appear before the House and tell us why he is fighting with the people of Nairobi,” Sakaja said, adding that the people of Nairobi elected a governor but the law has donated NMS a few powers.
“We will also summon CS Matiang’i to appear before us,” he held.
According to Sakaja, he alongside 17 MPs from Nairobi held a meeting with the CS where he promised that during the Covid-19 pandemic there will be no demolishing of property.
“I don’t know whether the pandemic has ended or suspended. CS Matiang’i keep your word. You promised that there shall be no demolishing of businesses and properties,” he held.