Acting ODM Party Leader, Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, has strongly criticized the late-night demolition of residential houses in Nairobi’s Woodley Estate, calling the operation “inhumane and shocking.”
The demolitions, reportedly aimed at creating space for high-density housing projects by the Nairobi County Government, have sparked widespread public outcry.
While acknowledging the importance of addressing housing shortages by constructing apartments, Nyong’o condemned the manner of execution.
“The better procedure would have been to develop high-density housing units elsewhere and facilitate the transfer of Woodley residents in a humane and well-organized manner,” he stated.
Nyong’o likened the demolitions to a colonial-era approach, emphasizing that such actions should not occur in modern Kenya.
He further cited Article 43(1)(b) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to adequate housing, and the UN guidelines on involuntary resettlement, highlighting a breach of these principles in the overnight evictions.
The ODM leader also drew attention to the historical significance of Woodley Estate, home to many notable figures in Kenya’s history, including freedom fighter Ramogi Achieng Oneko, Barack Obama Sr., former State House official Sammy Lui, and prominent politicians like Argwings Kodhek and Mulu Mutisya.
“Woodley Estate has been home to professionals and history makers who have shaped this nation. To demolish homes in this manner is an affront to their legacy and to the dignity of current residents,” Nyong’o noted.
The ODM party has called on the Nairobi County Government to act with compassion and prioritize humane solutions when enforcing development projects.
“The county government must not be Pharisees in the execution of the law but must serve Kenyans with dignity and humanity,” read part of the statement.
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