Shots as NDMU flattens kiosks near Moi Girls' School in Kibra
A Nairobi City County bulldozer brings down structures on a road reserve in Makina area of Kibra. PHOTO | BENSON MATHEKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The clashes got worse when the bulldozer brought down a community water tank in Makina despite pleas from the residents.
The engine broke the tank, letting out hundreds of litres of water, a scarce and expensive commodity in the informal settlement.
Makina area in Kibra Constituency was a no-go zone on Tuesday morning as the National Disaster Management Unit demolished stalls and other structures neighbouring Moi Girl’s School.
The flattening of the structures by a bulldozer from the Nairobi City County started near the school and extended to cover a road reserve stretching to Makina area.
PROPERTY
More 100 armed officers in combat gear kept guard, with some shooting in the air and throwing tear gas at irate youths.
The clashes got worse when the bulldozer brought down a community water tank in Makina despite pleas from the residents.
The engine broke the tank, letting out hundreds of litres of water, a scarce and expensive commodity in the informal settlement.
The locals confronted the officers with stones as police fired teargas to disperse them.
The officers said structures, some erected on the walls of the school that is on the spot over rape of a student, were sitting on the road reserve.
A Nairobi City County bulldozer brings down a water tank in Makina area of Kibra. PHOTO | COLLINS OMULO| NATION MEDIA GROUP
However, sources told the Nation that the national government suspects the structures act as hiding places for criminals following sexual assault of the student.
It was drama galore as incensed residents engaged the police in running battles and fought them with rocks.
The residents, most of them traders affected by the demolitions, claimed the move was in bad faith and a knee jerk response to the rape.
A Nairobi City County bulldozer brings down structures on a road reserve in Makina area of Kibra. PHOTO | BENSON MATHEKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
"We did not rape any girl at Moi Girls' School and this action is only going to bring back insecurity in this area, which has been peaceful," said one irate man only identified as Omosh.
Some of the youths who took part in the clashes accused the government of destroying their livelihoods.
"Does the government want us to go back to crime since now they are destroying our businesses?" posed Amir Ramadhan.
Some of the bonfires that residents of Makina area of Kibra lit as they they battled police. PHOTO | COLLINS OMULO| NATION MEDIA GROUP
The demolitions saw hundreds of structures flattened, with traders claiming they lost property worth millions of shillings.
NMDU deputy director Pius Masai said the multi-agency exercise targeted all illegal structures on road reserves and those surrounding schools to boost security and safety.
“In many areas, people have done the same. So if we have illegal kiosks surrounding schools, it is important they are cleared. What is important here is safety and security for all. County government of Nairobi engineers are the ones directing the bulldozer on where to demolish,” said Mr Masai.
On claims by the traders that they were not given notice, he asked them direct to contact City Hall, saying Governor Mike Sonko’s office was in a better place to respond.
“They… know how they came to occupy the space first of all and they know what procedures they followed. So if they have any questions let them go to the county government of Nairobi. Our mandate is to clear what we have been told to clear,” he said.
