Government Demolishes Homes: Despite the court of appeal stopping the implementation of the housing levy deductions and considering the whole process unconstitutional, residents of Mombasa slept in the cold following the demolishing of their homes.
According to reports, 84 homes in Changamwe and Msambweni are counting losses even after the court order after their homes were demolished to create room for the construction of affordable housing.
Demolitions took place on Friday, January 26, on the land 57-acre land that was established to belong to National Housing Corporation Land.
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Tenants of the 57 acre land were forced to vacate immediately as they watched their homes destroyed despite celebrating the court of appeal decision. However, NHC maintained that the land was already earmarked for the first phase of affordable houses in Mombasa.
Multiple reports alleged that the residents were served with a notice back in 2018, asking them to evacuate the land. However, they sought legal redress in court in a case said to be underway. Bulldozers accompanied by police officers raided the area as the tenants watched their buildings flattened.
“I see it is not a good move, cause the courts are there to defend people’s rights. So here we are vulnerable and displaced as the government maintains its stance.”
The painful part according to residents is that the demolitions occurred hours after the Court of Appeal halted the deduction of the housing levy pending the termination of a consolidated case field before it.
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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chief leader, Raila Odinga, visited the affected residents after concluding his tour of the region decried the inhumane treatment of the people by the Kenya Kwanza administration saying Kenyans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. He donated Ksh. 500,000 to the victims before leaving.
Government Demolishes Homes