Written by Lisa Murimi
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on Tuesday condemned the government for allowing demolitions in Mradi, Embakasi East, Nairobi, which left many residents homeless.Â
The demolitions, which took place early Tuesday morning, affected dozens of households, with bulldozers razing homes while people watched helplessly.
In a statement, Owino criticized the government’s inaction, stating that it was contradictory to promote affordable housing while simultaneously displacing people.
“It’s so sad for the Government to allow demolition of houses in Embakasi East, yet they are promoting the construction of affordable housing,” he said.
The MP expressed concern for the affected residents, noting that women, children, and men were left stranded without shelter.
Residents reported that the demolitions began at 5 a.m., catching many off guard and leaving them with no immediate solutions.
The demolitions caused traffic disruptions along Outering Road near Pipeline as debris blocked portions of the road.
This marks another instance in a series of ongoing demolition exercises in Nairobi, targeting structures built on road reserves and near riverbanks.
President William Ruto recently announced plans to construct 40,000 affordable housing units in Nairobi to settle those displaced, as part of the government’s ongoing affordable housing initiative.
