2,000 left homeless as county destroys houses in Mombasa

What you need to know:

  • After Wednesday’s fire, Mvita MP Mr Abdulswamad Nassir asked the county government to open up access roads occupied by the settlements.
  • Others admitted that their buildings had not been approved by the authority.

More than 2,000 people were left homeless Thursday when county bulldozers destroyed houses at Majengo ya Simba slums in Mombasa.

Lands and housing executive Francis Thoya said this was designed to open up access roads leading to estates.

The flattening comes only a day after a fire destroyed a timber yard and a church in the area.

Mr Thoya said fire-fighting trucks from the county government and the Kenya Ports Authority arrived near the area on time but little could be done since all access roads had been blocked.

“We are lucky no one was injured. We could not access the scene because buildings are on road reserves. We cannot accept this,” he said.

Mr Thoya said at the demolition site the houses were demolished two years ago but residents regrouped and rebuilt them. 

After Wednesday’s fire, Mvita MP Mr Abdulswamad Nassir asked the county government to open up access roads occupied by the settlements.

And Thursday, the bulldozers started destroying the structures at 8am.

Some of those who lost homes claimed they were served with a notice four years ago “but had not taken it seriously after the long delay”.

“I admit that I built on a road reserve without following due procedure,” said Mzee Shadrack Matata.

He lost a four-roomed permanent building that he was renting out, a business house and a toilet, all valued at more than Sh1 million.

Mrs Fatuma Milton, who has lived in the village for about 30 years, said they received an eviction notice four years ago.

“But since the demolition team did not come quickly, we assumed the issue (had been) forgotten,” she said.