By Sally Miruri and Irene Kinoti, from Pamoja Trust
Government-Ordered Evictions and the Crisis in Informal Settlements
On May 2, 2024, the Ministry of Interior, Kenya issued a mandatory evacuation order, citing public security concerns and environmental risks. This was followed by a presidential address on May 6, 2024, where the president acknowledged the devastating impact of floods, which had already led to loss of lives, displacement of people, and destruction of property. In response, the government announced the relocation of all individuals residing in unplanned settlements within riparian reserves, directing the Ministry of Interior to oversee evacuations, identify temporary shelter sites, and provide support for affected persons.
Forced Evictions Instead of Relocation
However, these pronouncements failed to clearly define “relocation.” True relocation involves planning, consultation, and participation of affected persons. Instead, what unfolded were forced evictions, with bulldozers tearing through homes with little to no notice. Families were pushed onto the streets without temporary shelter, alternative housing, or adequate compensation—all while the gruelling rainy season was ongoing. The inhumane manner of these evictions was particularly evident in Mukuru settlement, where a child tragically lost their life amidst the chaos.
In Marigoini, a settlement earmarked for affordable housing under the Kenya Slum Upgrading Program (KENSUP), residents were expelled without clear communication on whether they would benefit from the proposed housing development. Women—many of them single mothers, widows, and informal traders—bore the heaviest burden of these abrupt displacements.
Broken Promises: The Lack of Alternative Housing
Despite government promises of support for evicted families, no alternative housing was made available. Instead, officials announced a one-time KES 10,000 facilitation fee—a sum that, even if received, was grossly inadequate to secure stable housing in Nairobi. Many affected residents, including those from Marigoini, never received the promised payment, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability. With no structured resettlement plan, families were forced into survival mode—squatting in temporary shelters, overcrowding already burdened informal settlements, or, in some cases, returning to the very locations they had been evicted from.
The Gendered Impact of Evictions
Women and children were among the most affected. In Mashimoni, a village within the 14 Mathare villages, some evicted women were sheltered in the community resource center. In the small space, 16 women, including three teenage mothers, were hosted alongside 33 children. Describing the harrowing conditions, Ms. Kavesa, a women’s land and housing rights champion in Mashimoni who provided care support, stated:
“Women in the resource center were mentally disturbed. Being in that situation with your children, lacking food, and having your privacy taken away was really difficult. Pregnant women were the most affected—we had one pregnant woman who went into labor in the shelter.”
Personal Testimonies: The Struggles of Evicted Women
The evictions disproportionately affected women-led households, pushing them into economic and social devastation. With no homes, many now struggle to afford rent, uncertain whether they will benefit from the affordable housing program or even be able to afford it if they do.
For instance, Mama Achieng, a widowed mother of three, described how the eviction shattered her life:
“They came early in the morning with bulldozers. They didn’t even allow us to collect our things. My house was gone in minutes. Now, I have nowhere to go. The government says they gave us money, but I never received a cent. Where do they expect me to take my children?”
Similarly, Agnes Nduta, a single mother and community leader in Marigoini, lost her home and faced backlash from her community for speaking out. Her house also sheltered her sick mother and nieces. With no immediate care available, she had to send her mother back to the rural home, forcing her to make constant trips to check on her, exacerbating her emotional and financial turmoil. For women like Mama Achieng and Agnes, the forced evictions were more than just the loss of a home; they represented the destruction of livelihoods, dignity, and safety.
Community Movements Demand Justice
Community social movements alongside Pamoja Trust took immediate action to challenge these injustices. They issued an Open Letter to the President, highlighting the human rights violations caused by the evictions. Additionally, the organization engaged with the Habitat International Coalition (HIC) to bring global attention to the issue. A social media campaign was developed to amplify the stories of affected communities and demand action. However, the evictions continued throughout the rainy season, disproportionately targeting vulnerable neighbourhoods that host marginalized women, while affluent areas located on riparian land remained untouched.
In Mariguini, the presidential executive orders that led to the evictions to date have disrupted the KENSUP initiative, which aimed to provide decent, low-cost housing for informal settlers. The orders displaced the very people it was meant to help, with no clear path for their return. While the government claims progress in affordable housing, women and vulnerable families continue to suffer the consequences of abrupt, unjust policies. These evictions deepened structural inequalities.
A Call to Action: Housing as a Women’s Rights Issue
As the world marks International Women’s Day, and in the spirit of accelerating action to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women, Kenya’s housing crisis must be recognized as a women’s rights issue. Forced evictions disproportionately harm women, pushing them into homelessness, poverty, and vulnerability to gender-based violence (GBV).
To end unjust policies that leave women homeless and economically unstable, the government must:
- Commit to a moratorium on evictions without resettlement plans.
- Ensure women’s voices are heard in urban housing policies.
- Strengthen social protection mechanisms for informal settlers.
- Prioritize gender-sensitive affordable housing initiatives.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission, tasked with restoring riparian areas, has yet to clarify how its plans will protect displaced persons. While its stated goal is environmental conservation, it must integrate housing rights into its mandate. The question remains:
Will the commission listen to the voices of women and informal settlers, or will history repeat itself with more forced displacements?
