- The families were evicted from more than 200 county houses within Pioneer Estate.
- The families protested as they were evicted from the houses
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
More than 1,000 tenants have been evicted from county houses in Eldoret town to pave the way for the launch of affordable housing projects in the region.
President William Ruto is expected to launch the housing projects next week.
The families protested as they were evicted from the houses at Pioneer Estate where some of them have lived for more than 30 years.
They protested that they had not been given any official notices to vacate and that the sudden evictions would expose them to suffering.
County officials led by Governor Jonathan Bii and Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddison Nyale went to the estate on Tuesday and met with the families after which they were asked to vacate.
Governor Bii explained to the families the benefits of the housing project.
The government offered to pay Sh10,000 to each of the families to help them move out but many of them said they were yet to receive the cash.
President Ruto will on Tuesday launch the construction of 1,508 units at the estate where 9 high-rise blocks will be developed.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
One of the evicted victims Naomi Tangwony said the eviction was inhuman considering that they were preparing for the reopening of schools next week.
Tangwonyi said they earlier been told verbally that they would be given time until March 31, 2023, to vacate but the county suddenly ordered them to leave.
"It's inhuman because we agreed that we are given time to have the children go to school then we move out by March but it seems no one cares," said Tangwonyi.
The families were evicted from more than 200 county houses within Pioneer Estate.
Another victim Lukas Bwire who is a person living with disabilities said he had lived in the county house for over 35 years.
He said the county or national government had not explained to them how they would benefit from the affordable housing units once they were completed.
"We have lived here for many years and I am now aged 69 yet we have not been told how the project would benefit us," said Bwire.
He said the government should value the lives of people rather than carry out the evictions carelessly.
Francis Wanyoike who was also living in the houses said he had voluntarily moved out because he supports the president's initiative.
"I moved out because as youth we fully support the housing projects where many of us will get jobs and people will soon own the new houses," said Wanyoike.