Three dead, scores injured in Nairobi slum demolition

Three people were killed and two hospitalised as several more including police officers were injured on Saturday as a private developer sought to evict occupants from a 15 acre parcel of land in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Njenga slums.

The dead included a woman who was shot, another who was electrocuted by a falling high tension power cable and a 7-year old child who was trampled to death in an ensuing stampede as demonstrators fled from approaching law enforcement officers.

Nairobi Deputy provincial police boss Moses Ombati confirmed that the deceased woman died from a bullet wound.

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

Among the demonstrators was Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu who urged the residents to hold their grounds 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.

Residents who spoke to Nation said they had not received eviction notice and had demanded an end to the demolitions.

Mr Ombati said that the demolitions have been put on hold due to residents hostility and also the contracted demolition company had insufficient equipments.