Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja /FILE
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has condemned and moved to stop ongoing demolitions in Mukuru kwa Njenga, terming the exercise illegal, inhumane, and carried out without due process.
He said evictions—where unavoidable—must be conducted with
dignity, consultation, and adequate notice.
Sakaja said the affected residents should first be engaged and
informed about the reasons behind any planned eviction before implementation.
“We do all these roads by speaking to the people, not by using
force,” he said.
The governor also raised concern over the heavy deployment of
armed police officers in the informal settlement, saying it sent the wrong
message and unnecessarily escalated tension.
“It is very unfortunate that we wake up to several agencies coming together to demolish houses without any notice or proper communication,” Sakaja said.
“People are being forced to run for their lives as bulldozers destroy homes that are still occupied. There is a clear process that must be followed, even when constructing access or feeder roads. We are not against development, but we are against inhumane and unlawful processes.”
Speaking on the ground in Mukuru kwa Njenga on Tuesday, Governor Sakaja faulted the agencies behind the demolitions, saying they acted without notice, consultation, or coordination with the county government. He said residents were forced to flee their homes as bulldozers moved in, leaving families terrified and uncertain about their future.
He urged road authorities and government agencies involved in
infrastructure development to prioritise public participation, particularly in
densely populated informal settlements such as Mukuru.
Sakaja said residents are usually willing to cooperate when
properly engaged and informed about development projects such as access roads.
“They are not animals that you just come and evict at night.
It is an unfortunate incident and we have spoken to agencies involved in this,”
he said.
The governor reminded public officials and security agencies of
their duty to serve and protect citizens.
“Government officials should always remember they are there to
serve the people even police are here to serve people not attack them people,”
Sakaja said.
The visibly disturbed governor displayed what he said were
cartridges from bullets allegedly fired during the eviction, questioning the
use of force in a civilian setting.
“These are bullets, it is not right,” he said.
The governor emphasized that the Nairobi County Government was not aware of the operation and insisted that those behind it knew they were acting outside the law. He added that neither the President nor the county had sanctioned the demolitions.
“As Governor of Nairobi, I will not allow this,” he said.
“We are here to serve the people, not to chase them away or demolish their homes in this manner. This is not how public service is done.”
Sakaja assured residents that the county government would work
to de-escalate the situation and address the plight of those affected.
“We will deescalate the situation; we have taken a list of
people needing compensation,” he said.
The governor faulted the national government for carrying out
activities within Nairobi county without consultation, stressing the importance
of devolution.
“We are a devolved state with no agency, and this must be
clear—should do work that belongs to a county without consulting the county,”
he said.
Sakaja recalled a similar incident in 2021—before he assumed office—when demolitions in the area were halted after public outcry. He called for dialogue and an amicable approach that respects the rights and dignity of residents.
Tensions remained high as a heavy police presence was deployed in the area, with residents expressing fear of displacement from one of Nairobi’s most densely populated informal settlements.
The governor directed all agencies involved to cease operations immediately, pending proper engagement and adherence to the law.
Sakaja spoke directly to President William Ruto regarding
the evictions, saying the Head of State was unaware of the operation and had
ordered it stopped.
“I have spoken to the President, and he says he is not aware. He
says this must stop,” Sakaja said.
He apologised to the affected residents and assured them that
the evictions had been halted.
Meanwhile, the Mukuru Community Justice Centre accused police of
using excessive force during the eviction process.
The organisation claimed that residents protesting the
demolitions were met with rubber bullets and live ammunition, placing lives at
risk in the densely populated settlement.
“Stop forced evictions. Stop police violence. Respect the rule
of law,” the centre said in a statement.