President William Ruto revealed that he personally intervened to stop demolitions in the sprawling Mukuru Kwa Njenga informal settlement after chaotic scenes and protests erupted earlier this week.
The demolitions, which began Tuesday, involved bulldozers and security forces moving into the settlement as residents scrambled to block the exercise that threatened to displace hundreds of families.
Presidential Intervention Halts Demolitions
Addressing the situation, Ruto said he was disturbed to learn that people had been sent to tear down homes without adequate notice or engagement with affected residents.
“Juzi niliona kuna watu wameenda kubomolea watu pale Mukuru, nikawaambia wasimamishe na wawache ujinga. Mambo ya kubomolea mwananchi nyumba na kutumia nguvu iliisha,” he said, which loosely translates to: “The other day I saw people going to demolish houses in Mukuru, and I told them to stop and leave the nonsense alone. The era of demolishing citizens’ houses and using force is over.”
Ruto emphasized that forced demolitions and the use of force against citizens must end. Instead, he said the government must work with Kenyans, explain plans, and provide alternative settlement options.
“We have a way that we can work with Kenyans and make them understand, and we give them alternative settlements as we develop our slum areas,” he said.
Residents Clash With Police
The high-tension demolitions, linked to an attempted expansion of feeder roads inside the settlement, triggered fierce responses from residents and local leaders.
On January 20, residents clashed with police and tried to block machinery, leading to officers deploying tear gas to control the situation.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja condemned the operation, denying any county government approval had been given for the work. He described the exercise as unlawful and called for compensation for those affected.
Long-Standing Development Challenges
Mukuru Kwa Njenga, home to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents, has long been at the center of development debates and resettlement efforts.
Last year, the government made progress in its affordable housing program there, launching thousands of new housing units to provide safer alternatives to informal structures. However, many residents still live in densely packed and precarious conditions.
Community leaders and human rights groups have repeatedly warned that aggressive demolition tactics risk displacing vulnerable families without adequate compensation or alternative homes.
