Three killed in Nairobi slum eviction chaos

Three people died, two were hospitalised and several others, including police officers, were injured on Saturday as a private developer sought to evict occupants of a 15-acre piece of land in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Njenga slums.

The dead included a woman who was shot, another who was electrocuted by a high voltage power cable that fell in the ensuing chaos, and a seven-year-old child who was trampled to death in a stampede as demonstrators fled from approaching law enforcement officers.

Two policemen were seriously injured. They had cuts inflicted on their faces by objects thrown at them by the residents.

Fracas from the mid morning melee spilt over to the Mombasa-Nairobi highway as enraged demonstrators blocked parts of the highway, causing a major traffic snarl-up.

Speaking to the Sunday Nation, a resident, Samuel Kyalo, said the evictions were unfair and that the residents had not been served with a notice.

“They have just ambushed us. Some of us were cooking. Others were still in bed. How can they do this to us?” said Mr Kyalo.

However, a copy of the eviction notice seen by the Sunday Nation shows that it was originally issued on March 3, 2010.

Its validity could not be immediately ascertained.

“How can they come and demolish these structures now? Two years later. Why didn’t they demolish our homes at the expiry of the notice then?” asked Mr Kyalo.

As residents engaged law enforcers in running battles, a middle-aged woman lost her life as she was trying to get away.

As she gathered her belongings, a high voltage electricity cable over the structures that were being demolished gave way and landed on her.

Her death was almost instant as she came into contact with the wire.

Two others were taken to hospital with what witnesses described as gunshot wounds.

Among the demonstrators was Embakasi Member of Parliament Ferdinand Waititu who urged the residents to hold their ground, insisting the evictions were unlawful.

Many of the affected residents were caught unawares as, at the time of the evictions, a majority of them had reported to work.

Sylvanus Machio, a 33-year- old single parent, had spent two hours at his place of work before he got a call from a neighbour informing him of an impending demolition.

“I pleaded with my boss to give me a day off. When he finally agreed at 9 am, I rushed home but could not get to my house.

"Demonstrators had blocked the road on one side and there were police officers on the other side. I hear my house has been demolished.

"I have not saved anything. All I have now are the clothes I am wearing,” Mr Machio said.

Some of those affected were among those from the December Kyangombe slum evictions. (READ: Council carries out dawn demolitions in Nairobi)

Nairobi deputy provincial police boss Moses Ombati confirmed that one of the dead people had a bullet wound.

“We are investigating the matter. We want to know where the bullet came from,” said Mr Ombati.