Evictions loom in Nairobi's South B amid Sh30,000 compensation offer
Nairobi
By
Joan Oyiela
| Dec 24, 2025
Residents of Mariguini slum in Nairobi’s South B are protesting the imminent demolition of their homes and businesses as the government prepares to implement its affordable housing programme.
The residents claim the Sh30,000 compensation offered is grossly inadequate for resettlement. Even as the deadline draws near, residents are stranded and unsure how they are going to start afresh after leaving a place they have called home for more than six decades.
The government maintains that residents will be given the first opportunity to purchase units in the upcoming redevelopment. Residents are being offered compensation and a chance to register for new units on the Boma Yangu portal. However, many feel caught off guard, with businesses disrupted and livelihoods threatened. Similar plans exist for Jericho, Ziwani, Kaloleni and other areas as part of a large urban renewal push.
However, some long-time residents, many of whom have lived in the area for more than six decades, remain hesitant, accusing the government of disrupting their lives.
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In essence, it is a clash between urban modernisation goals and the immediate human impact on long-term residents. Legal battles and protests highlight the complexities, with residents saying the promised Sh30,000 (or other amounts in different projects such as Woodley) is not enough. They argue that the compensation fails to reflect the true value of their homes and the disruption to their livelihoods.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, Mary Mwimbi, chairlady of Mater Central Residents Association, said they have been in court since 2011 because slum upgrading started many years ago, but the manner in which things are being handled on the ground is frustrating.
“There are rules of slum upgrading which must be adhered to. This compensation cannot sustain a family or cover the cost of relocating our businesses. We are willing to cooperate with the government, but it must be fair and humane. Many of us have lived here for decades. We built our homes with our own hands and ran businesses that support our families. Sh30,000 is not enough to start over anywhere in Nairobi,” she said.
According to residents, the demolition notice gave minimal time for relocation, leaving many scrambling to make alternative arrangements.
The Kenya Slum Upgrading Authority (KENSUP) and the Ministry of Housing have maintained that the affordable housing initiative is part of a broader effort to improve living conditions for low-income residents.
Area MCA Waithera Chege, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader in the Nairobi County Assembly, said slum upgrading is not a new project, noting that it started during former President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure as part of Vision 2030.
“This is not a new project. It started during Kibaki’s time. If you remember when the late president spoke about Vision 2030, one of the projects meant to be implemented was the upgrading of Mariguini slums. If you look at the pink cards residents have today, they bear a date given by the government then, which is December 11, 2011. At that time, I was not an elected MCA in Mariguini. I have served my people since 2017 to 2022,” she said.
The MCA further stated that in the case presented and the judgment delivered at the High Court of Kenya, it was found that the land belongs to the government. She added that the Sh30,000 being issued is not compensation, as the land does not belong to the residents, but rather a facilitation fee. She noted that during public participation, residents of Mariguini requested a transport allowance to the places they would be relocating to.