Kibera residents seek compensation for forceful eviction

A section of Kibera residents have filed a petition with the high court seeking compensation for forceful evictions and demolition of their homes and business premises in the Fort Jesus area of the slum.

In the suit filed against the Attorney General, Kenya Railways Corporation, the cabinet secretary ministry of lands and H. Young Ltd, the residents claim that the evictions were made despite a High Court order stalling them. The residents also claim to have lived in the area all of their lives and had put up schools, churches, businesses among other social amenities.

According to the petition, the Kenya Railways Corporation was to construct housing units for the resettlement of slum dwellers who had encroached and dwelled within 30 metres of the railway reserve through a World Bank funded project in order to enhance safety of rail transportation.

In their suit papers the residents claim that Kenya Railways and H. Young Ltd demolished their homes and commercial structures on September 8 this year in a bid to forcefully evict them despite a High Court order issued on July 4 stalling the action.

In a sworn affidavit Paul Omondi Otiende said that the Project's financier had put up guidelines for resettling affected persons that would have avoided arbitrary evictions without relocations or compensation.

“Petitioners were not given an opportunity to salvage personal property and possessions. To this date some of the petitioners are staying at a school called Kibera Community Project where about ten families are sharing two classrooms,” Mr Otiende said.