Tensions escalate in Woodley as houses are set for demolition

As they were supported to walk to the playground, the venue where a section of residents had gathered for a meeting, the anxiety of the elderly and frail senior citizens was evident on their faces.

For the decades they have lived in Woodley, nothing has shaken them more than the recent news that their homes are earmarked for demolition to make way for the redevelopment of the estate by the Nairobi County Government.

Clearly frail, the elderly and sickly residents were determined not to miss the meeting convened by the Woodley Residents Welfare Society (WRWS), where they hoped to chart a way forward after the welfare group lost a petition seeking to block the eviction of certain tenants. The eviction is part of the county government’s urban renewal housing project in partnership with Africa Reit Ltd.

The meeting, held last Thursday, was viewed as a final attempt to prevent the looming evictions, which are expected at any time. The presence of the elderly residents, who turned up to express their displeasure, was hard to ignore. After all, they carry the memories of the estate, which was originally built by the then-British colonial mayor, Sir Richard Woodley.

Though the elderly did not speak much, their sentiments were clearly conveyed by retired broadcaster and former director of presidential events, Sammy Lui.

Among the 43 tenants expected to vacate their homes is Lui, a long-time resident who has lived in the estate for 53 years. For him, the eviction notice is both distressing and disheartening.

“We have nothing against the project, but we should be engaged. Even this space you see here would not have been preserved if we were not vigilant,” he said, adding that the eviction notice has caused sleepless nights for many residents.

According to the aggrieved residents, the county government failed to involve them in the public participation process as required by law.

“I am among the 43 tenants expected to vacate, yet I have never been part of any public participation process the county claims to have conducted. They approved the demolition of old houses marked as Lot One and Lot Two without consulting us,” said Lui.

WRWS secretary, Peter Ngatia, stated that they have invited Governor Johnson Sakaja to hear their concerns.

The estate, which comprises 300 housing units, including flats and two- and three-bedroom standalone bungalows, was constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. It is one of the many decades-old estates the county aims to demolish in order to build new high-rise apartments to accommodate the city’s growing population.

“We have adequate open space. There is no need to demolish an estate where some tenants have lived for 50 to 70 years, serving this nation. People like Lui, who are elderly and in poor health, should be respected,” said Dr Ngatia.

He added: “We are also appealing to President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to intervene. They all have a strong history and connection with this estate.”

Initially, all seemed well when Ngatia and other officials met with Sakaja in February to discuss the redevelopment plan. However, according to Ngatia, a committee formed to oversee the talks was later dissolved without explanation.

He said the estate was never among those earmarked for redevelopment under the regimes of former governors Evans Kidero, Mike Sonko, or the Nairobi Metropolitan Services.