Despite obtaining interim orders from the Environment and Lands Court halting the evictions, more than 7,000 households of Kariobangi Sewerage Farmers Slum, Korogocho Market, Kisumu Ndogo and Nyayo Village, Nairobi, Kenya, were forcibly evicted by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) between 4 and 6 May. Residents have title deeds to their homes and have been paying levies to the county government for the land. The NCWSC has rendered residents homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing their likelihood of contracting the virus.
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H.E Uhuru Kenyatta
President of the Republic of Kenya
Due to postal restrictions caused by COVID-19, please only send physical mail to the Embassy
Email: [email protected]
Ambassador David Gacheru
Embassy of the Republic of Kenya
2249 R St. NW, Washington DC 20008
Phone: 202 387 6101 I Fax: 202 462 3829
Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Twitter: @KenyaembassyDC
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Dear President Uhuru Kenyatta,
I am very concerned that more than 7,000 households from Kariobangi Sewerage Farmers Slum, Korogocho Market, Kisumu Ndogo and Nyayo Village have been left homeless after facing forced evictions by the NCWSC between 4 and 6 May.
On 2 May, the Officer Commanding Police Division of Starehe Division and Deputy County Commissioner told residents of Kariobangi Sewerage Farmers Slum to vacate their homes and allow NCWSC to use the land to which they claimed ownership. However, residents have title deeds and have been paying land rates or levies to the government for the land. On 3 May, the residents sought and obtained an interim order from the Environment and Land Court to halt the eviction until the matter was heard on 7 May. However, according to residents, NCWSC representatives tore up the court order when it was presented to them and proceeded to demolish homes.
Access to adequate housing is critical to protection from Covid-19, preventing its spread and recovering from it. The forced eviction is a violation of the right to adequate housing and the resulting homelessness has increased the likelihood of the affected residents of contracting the disease.
I call on you to announce a moratorium on evictions in Kenya for the period of the Covid-19 pandemic; ensure that victims of the forced evictions from Kariobangi Sewerage Farmers Slum, Korogocho Market, Kisumu Ndogo and Nyayo Village are provided with emergency alternate housing, effective remedy and relief; and initiate an inquiry into the disregard of the Environment and Lands Court orders by the NCWSC and ensure that those responsible are held to account.
Yours sincerely,
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