Reprieve for slum dwellers as court stops eviction
A Nairobi High Court has stopped Kenya Railways from evicting residents of Agare and Mbotela slums pending the determination of a suit that opposes the eviction.
The slum residents had moved to court claiming they had been threatened to move out of the parcel of land by Kenya Railways.
They further claimed that Kenya Railways has started building houses and intends to evict them and have them replaced with Mukuru slum dwellers.
According to the suit papers, the slum residents were to be evicted on Friday last week.
The slum dwellers claimed that they were born and brought up in the area which they have lived for over 25 years.
In their grounds supporting their application, the slum residents claim they were not consulted on the intended construction of the project.
“The evictions will disrupt the small businesses and entrepreneurship that forms the basis of Vision 2030 economic growth,” read part of the application.
In his supporting affidiavit, area Member of County Assembly Mr Peter Imwatok who is also a petitioner in the case said the slum dwellers have lived for more than 25 years in the area hence created legitimate expectations they cannot be evicted.
Mr Justice Weldon Korir stopped any eviction of the slum dwellers and directed the case to be heard on December 17.
Apart from Kenya Raiways, the slum dwellers have also sued Principal Secretary Ministry of lands, housing and urban development, commissioner of lands and the National Land Commission.
The court further directed the petitioners to serve the respondents with suit papers.