By Ebi Kesiena
Nairobi residents took to the streets on Thursday, voicing their grievances against what they perceive as haphazard development initiatives in the city, leading to forced displacements.
Alongside human rights activists, they marched through the urban thoroughfares, wielding placards and chanting in unison.
Dressed in somber attire, the activists paused intermittently to address the assembled crowd, passionately articulating their concerns.
Kitusuru Member of the County Assembly, Alvin Orlando, implored Governor Johnson Sakaja to prioritize the well-being of the city’s inhabitants.
These protests were further catalyzed by recent heavy rainfall, culminating in widespread flooding and subsequent governmental directives to evacuate vulnerable areas.
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In the wake of these events, Human Rights Organisation Amnesty International criticised the evictions in informal settlements, highlighting the worsening of challenges faced by vulnerable groups already contending with flood aftermath.
The organisation proposed a community-centered Relocation Action Plan (RAP), emphasizing inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. They called for immediate emergency assistance, recommending cash transfers of Sh30,000 up from the government’s initial Sh10,000 per household.
Amnesty also demanded accountability and justice for lives lost, properties destroyed, and disrupted livelihoods during the evictions, advocating for humane interventions in government disaster management during crises.
