The morning of December 21, 2021 was supposed to be a good day for Elizabeth Achieng’ and her family.
The family that lived in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums, had planned to travel upcountry in Alego, Siaya county to celebrate the festivities with their loved ones.
Her husband, Samson Omondi, was set to pick some food stuff from his father who lives in Pipeline area, before they travelled home that day.
Achieng’ who was pregnant with their third child, was to follow him later.
What was supposed to be a season of joy and celebration, quickly turned into mourning.
Omondi, who left home early morning amid rain, immediately became unreachable on his phone.
A private developer with police in tow also stormed Mukuru Kwa Njenga and started bringing down the mabati structures that housed thousands of people in the area.
Her house was also demolished in the early morning action.
Unknown to Achieng', her husband was shot dead when he tried to block the demolitions.
Widowed, homeless and jobless, the pregnant mother of two was thrown into the deep end, not knowing what to do.
“It is a well-wisher who helped me with a house where I am now living with my three children. I am yet to fully settle,” she narrated to the Star.
Achieng' spoke on Wednesday during an event at the informal settlement to mark World Habitat Day.
"It is a dog's life for me. They took my husband, my family and house," she said.
A Lands Court in August dismissed a case by Mukuru Kwa Njenga residents that sought to block the auction of a hotly contested property with Orbit Chemicals.
Justice Edward Wabwoto, who struck out the case said the ownership of the property had already been determined by several courts
“I do not doubt Orbit as the owner of this land. I just want them to have a heart for the poor and destitute like me and give us a small space to live in,”Achieng’ said.
Her situation is similar to that of many Mukuru residents who were displaced during the demolitions.
Nancy Wairimu, aged 36, narrated how her eight month old son almost died during the demolitions.
“They came early in the morning when I was away and my son was still sleeping. It was also raining when the house was brought down and my son was exposed to the rain. He developed acute pneumonia that almost killed him,” she said amid sobs.
She now stays with her elder sister who is sheltering her for the time being.
“I still have trauma. For almost two years now, I have not been able to rent a house for myself because of the trauma. I am afraid that another demolition might occur and expose me to the same trauma. It is very sad,” Wairimu said.
Hakii Jamii, a human rights lobby group, marked the World Habitat Day in Mukuru Kwa Njenga.
The organisation conducted a civic education for the residents about land rights and how they can use the law to pursue their rights.
Lucy Barasa, a manager from the lobby group, said they want the state to include the demolition victims in its affordable housing scheme.
“Now that Orbit Chemicals has been declared the lawful owner of this land, we ask the state to come up with a solution for these residents. A social housing scheme might be the intervention,” she said.
Barasa proposed that Orbit chemicals curves out a small piece of land out of the 97 acres and settle the residents.