Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja makes his submissions before the Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on potential eviction of Korogocho residents, November 13, 2025. /PARLIAMENTNairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has vowed that any relocation of residents from the Korogocho slums along the Nairobi River Corridor will be conducted fairly, stressing that inhuman evictions will not be tolerated.
The assurance came during a consultative session with the Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday, which also involved petitioners, the Nairobi Rivers Commission and representatives of the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque Committee.
At hand were two key petitions, one challenging the potential eviction of Korogocho residents following the Nairobi River Corridor’s declaration as a Special Planning Area, and another questioning the alleged conversion of land in Pumwani Majengo from public to private use.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna makes his submissions before the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on sitting on potential eviction of Korogocho residents, November 13, 2025. /PARLIAMENT
Governor Sakaja underscored that while the constitution guarantees fundamental rights, it also obligates the county government to plan and regulate development in pursuit of public interest.
This, he said, is in line with the Fourth Schedule, the County Governments Act (2012), the Urban Areas and Cities Act, and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019).
Authorities must ensure sustainable development and environmental protection, but this won't be done at the expense of citizens' dignity and their well-being, the governor explained.
“Residents of Korogocho are very special to me, and any inhuman eviction is wrong. However, the law governing riparian corridors must be followed to save lives, and compensation, where applicable, must be fair,” he said.
Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources sitting on Thursday, November 13, 2025./PARLIAMENT
According to Sakaja, the management of the Nairobi River riparian corridor is urgent, as unregulated development, solid waste pollution and climate-change-driven rainfall fluctuations have contributed to repeated flooding in 2016, 2020, 2023, and 2024.
He, however, emphasised that no demolitions or survey pegging had been conducted in Korogocho as of the latest site inspection, underscoring the county’s commitment to lawful and humane handling of the situation.
Referring to a Cabinet resolution of April 2024, Sakaja noted that residents along riverbanks had been advised to relocate to higher ground ahead of the rainy season to mitigate flood risks.
The interventions, he said, aim to prevent further loss of life and property.
He also cited alignment among various sectoral laws, including the Survey Act, the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, the Agriculture Act, and PLUPA 2019, which collectively discourage human activity within riparian zones to protect their ecological integrity.
Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources sitting on Thursday, November 13, 2025./PARLIAMENT
The Nairobi Rivers Commission echoed the governor's sentiments, clarifying that the Special Planning Area designation does not permit evictions or displacements without due legal process, a resettlement action plan and fair compensation.
The commission further explained that residents temporarily displaced during flood evacuation exercises would be identified by National Government Administration Officers for compensation and prioritisation in nearby social housing allocations.
The Senate Committee, chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, concluded that further consultations with relevant national government ministries are necessary before preparing a comprehensive report for action.
Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, during discussion on potential eviction of Korogocho residents, November 13, 2025. /PARLIAMENT
The discussions signal a coordinated approach between county and national authorities, balancing residents’ rights with environmental and safety considerations in one of Nairobi’s most flood-prone areas.
With Sakaja’s assurances and the Nairobi Rivers Commission’s clarifications, Korogocho residents can expect that any interventions will be transparent, lawful and accompanied by fair compensation.
This reflects a growing commitment to humane governance in Kenya’s urban planning initiatives.
