Reprieve for Makongeni Estate residents after court halts further demolitions, evictions
Residents of the Makongeni Estate in Nairobi have gotten a temporary reprieve after the High Court halted further demolitions.
The Environment and Land Court also suspended the planned eviction of the the over 40,000 residents from their homes.
The court issued the conservatory orders after Otieno Willis Evans Otieno, on behalf of several Maongeni residents, filed a petition to prevent the government from continuing with the evictions.
In his petition, Otieno sought the restoration of water and electricity, which were cut to coerce the residents into leaving the place.
The Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and the Affordable Housing Board have been named as the three main respondents in the case filed by petitioners and Makongeni Residents Association.
Kenya Railways, State Department of Housing and Urban Development headed by Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and Affordable Housing Board are accused of illegally disconnected water and electricity and unleashing police officers to terrorise residents , actions that violated every constitutional safeguard on dignity, housing, and due process.
Justice Charles Mbogo directed the respondents to immediately restore water and electricity, and barred them from carrying out any further evictions or demolitions pending the full hearing of the case.
“The court has now directed the respondents to immediately restore water and electricity and barred them from carrying out any further evictions or demolitions pending the full hearing of the case,” Otieno said.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo observed that Makongeni Estate, which is home to some 40,000 Kenyans, had been earmarked for the construction of an affordable housing project.
Residents had received notices to vacate subject to payment of Relocation Facilitation Funds, but the majority had yet to receive compensation, making the notices effectively ineffective
Makadara MP George Aladwa defended the government, saying the residents had been offered the Sh150,000 relocation facilitation and urged them to move out to pave the way for development.
The residents were given until December 2, 2025 to vacate the houses.
