[PHOTOS] Families in pain as houses are demolished in Mathare

In Summary

The operation that has left many families homeless has been criticised by civil organisations and communities.
The civil organisations called out the government for conducting the exercise inhumane manner.

by PERPETUA ETYANG

29 May 2024 - 19:52

Families have been left in agony and devastation with ongoing demolitions in parts of Nairobi targeting buildings and structures in riparian lands. https://shorturl.at/q40N0

A bulldozer demolishes structures along the Mathare River line on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Families have been left in agony and devastation with ongoing demolitions in parts of Nairobi targeting buildings and structures in riparian lands.

Sounds from bulldozers and collapsing buildings are all one can hear in the Mathare, Embakasi and Runda areas.

Families stare as homes they have known all their lives are reduced to rubble.

The operation that has left many families homeless has been criticised by civil organisations and communities.

A section of demolished houses along Mathare River on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Two ladies are pictured seated on an abandoned sofa in Mathare Kosovo after authorities demolished buildings along the river line on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A bulldozer is escorted by police and a National Youth Service Officers along the Kosovo Bridge in Mathare on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

The civil organisations called out the government for conducting the exercise in an inhumane manner.

Children were seen playing in the surroundings near the demolished houses posing a great danger to their health.

They were exposed to big stones, iron sheets and logs from the demolished houses.

Tassia River Bank resident Yusuf Mukoya said that the residents are living in fear of being evacuated anytime.

"We are being threatened with court orders that may be false because we are not sure. The government should look at what is happening to us," he said.

Children stare at a section of Mathare that was demolished by the government because they were built in riparian land on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

National Youth Service men escorts a bulldozer seen passing past a vegetable vendor whose house and stall was demolished by government because it was built along the riparian land on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A man holds a tape measure and marks sections of the structure that are to be marked for demolition built on riparian land in Mathare on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Youths salvage iron sheets from demolished building built in riparian land on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Children stares at a section of building in Mathare under demolition by the government on account that they were built in riparian land on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Flattened building along River Bank Estate in Tassia on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A structure under construction sits amidst its surroundings being demolished in Tassia River Bank estate in Nairobi on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A man marks a section of structure to be demolished in Nairobi on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A building along Kiambu road that is still flooded with rain water on May 29,2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A section of United Nation Avenue under construction after it was destroyed with flash floods. The area has been experiencing floods with many buildings nearby built along riparian land on May 29, 2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A business building on Kileleshwa Road on May 29, 2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

A woman moves with her belonging after her house was demolished in Kosovo Mathare on May 29, 2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE

Children play in Kasovo Memorial Park while facing structures in Mathare that are being demolished by the government because they were erected on riparian land on May 29, 2024.
Image: ENOS TECHE