Approximately 360 families residing in Starehe Estate in Nairobi are facing eviction as demolition of housing units begins today December 29 to pave way for the government's affordable housing project set to begin in January 2021.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) disconnected power lines from the housing units on Monday, December 28, 2020.
According to the estate residents, the eviction is in bad faith because of the lack of allowance.
The civil servants claim that the demolitions were to be delayed as per talks that their representatives held with the Ministry of Housing.
The chairman of the Starehe Residents Association Adam Katana said they were to have an allowance for schooling children to complete their terms according to their agreement with the relevant authorities.
"We had a meeting with the ombudsman, the ministry of housing secretary Mr Buja and we agreed, that our children be allowed to finish their school terms then the demolitions can embark," he stated.
According to Katana, most of the estate residents are casual civil servants and they are likely to face a huge blow on their income with the high rents they would encounter outside the estate.
The chairman argued, "Some of the people here work casually. They serve tea in government offices, they clean offices. Their housing allowance is about Ksh3,000. These houses are also closer to town.
"If you evacuate this person, and he goes to a place like Rongai, can you guarantee they will afford the rents there, let alone the bus fare," he continued.
Katana also pointed out that learning for students and pupils schooling nearby will be affected by the evacuation.
Debra Yon, a class eight pupil urged, "I would urge they restore our electricity, and allow us to stay here until April next year, and when we are done with our KCPE exams then we can move."
Anne Wafula, a resident, alao pleaded, "Kindly allow us more time. It is not our own doing. We have no salary, we have loans."
The estate has been around for almost to 80 years.
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