NMS Lists 10 Nairobi Areas Earmarked for Demolition
The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) has announced that more homes will be demolished in selected areas of the city if the court order is enforced.
Targeted areas include illegal construction along Eadrome Road in west Nairobi, the soon-to-be-built slum dwellings at Ole Sereni along Mombasa Road, illegal construction along the East African Wall, and Concrete Company Limited in Embakasi.
Thousands of Nairobi residents could be left HOMELESS after demolitions LOOMING. pic.twitter.com/i5PIAj3Vht
— Dominic Kiarie (@DominicKiarie8) March 30, 2022
Other areas include illegal construction along Manyanja Road in Kiamaiko Umoja, structures along the fence of Kenya Builders and Concrete Company Limited, and the surrounding areas of Kware and Pipeline.
Illegal containers set up by community organizations (CBOs) at the Huruma playground were also targeted by the operation.
NMS head Mohammad Badi detailed the reasons for the demolition in the presence of the Senate Decentralization and Intergovernmental Committee.
However, he distanced himself from the evictions of Pumwani and Eastleigh, noting that he did not grant approval.
“Nomad has written to the NMS asking us to help with the eviction, but we have referred Nomad to the Nairobi Regional Security Council as the NMS has no such power. An interdepartmental committee of all government agencies has cleared trespassing people,” he said.
The NMS chief confronted senators to prove NMS officials were not involved in the demolition that kept thousands of Nairobi residents awake at night.
Committee Chair and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kawan sought best practices from the NMS for future demolition to avoid inhumane treatment of Kenyans.
“I think you’re trying to get out of this. We’re not just asking about your personal guilt, what are the steps we’re asking? What are the best practices for doing these demolitions? We’re not trying to fix you,” Kajwang explained.
Established on March 9, 2020, NMS has been commissioned to issue documents and authorize vacancies and demolitions as part of an ongoing urban renewal program.
