Dozens of families in Woodley Estate, Nairobi, have been left homeless after county authorities forcibly evicted them from their homes over unpaid rent arrears yesterday, on Friday, May 9.
The affected residents, many of whom have lived there for decades, say county officials arrived unannounced early in the morning and began tossing their belongings onto the streets, including mattresses and jikos, in ignorance of a May 8 Milimani court order barring evictions from the 1950s-era public housing estate.
“They threw our things out like we were nothing,” said Sam Gachago, a displaced resident. “They were doing this in total disregard of a court order which we were given yesterday by the Milimani court.”
Besides accusing the county of defying the court, the residents are also challenging the rent figures, saying the arrears were exaggerated and that no fair or clear payment options were offered.
Meanwhile, Nairobi City County, led by Governor Johnson Sakaja, denied receiving any injunction, insisting that the evictions are lawful and aimed at recovering millions in unpaid rent from tenants, some dating back many years.
Lydia Mathia, the County Executive Committee Member, defended the action: “We are simply following the law. Our intention is not malicious; we are just ensuring that tenants pay what they owe the county.”
The evictions follow a November court ruling in favour of the county, which residents appealed, securing what they believed was a temporary reprieve.
With Woodley Estate recently caught up in legal battles over fraudulent land ownership, the dispute started years ago with illegal land sales.
In 1992, rogue officials from the defunct Nairobi City Council illegally sold government units to private owners, leading to a 2020 court ruling declaring the estate a public utility to be repossessed.
The November 2024 Court of Appeal decision further nullified private titles, paving the way for county-led redevelopment.
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