Day Sami Lui was brutally kicked out from his Nairobi home

Reports of Sammy Lui’s death came as a shock to Kenyans who knew his commanding voice when he was at the Presidential Press Service and State master of ceremonies.

Away from the State functions, Lui spent his time at Woodley estate along Ngong road, a quiet neighbourhood away from the city hustle and bustle; it is here that he called home for about five decades.

But his last days in Nairobi last year were unpleasant. His bungalow was among few that were demolished to pave way for the Affordable Housing Project, his plea and those of his neighbours fell on deaf ears forcing him to relocate to Subukia.

President William Ruto, in his condolence message described him as a dedicated public servant, a veteran broadcaster, and the respected State master of ceremonies.

“From his early days as one of Kenya’s pioneer journalists at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to his time at the Presidential Press Service, and later, as Director of State events, his powerful voice was the familiar soundtrack to Kenyans,” President Ruto praised Lui.

Adding that, “his sterling career influenced many who followed in his footsteps, and his huge contribution to our media industry will not be forgotten,”

His son, Chris Kamau recalls how Lui had lived in Woodley estate for about 50 years and when he was evicted he was troubled.

“He fought for the estate not to be demolished, that is what disturbed him having lived there for many years but he relocated to the Subukia farm,” he says, adding that his father passed on aged 82.

His neighbours and the residents’ association, said Lui’s life before he relocated to Subukia as upsetting, claiming that he and the residents were evicted at night by Nairobi County staff in company of goons on the night of November 18, 2024.

The residents say no proper public participation was conducted prior to the demolition and that those targeted were not given time to vacate as it ought to have been the case.

“The demolition was done without a notice or a court order as required by the law, it was issued to hand over the houses on November 19, 2024 but they came on the night of 18th with bulldozers and 300 police officers and goons,” Woodley Development Initiative Chairman Sam Gachago said

According to the residents’ association , some of the residents had court orders to stop demolition of their houses but they were demolished citing that some home owners have died due to the illegal evictions by the county and goons.

“Lui was a pillar of the Woodley community and we used to call him shujaa, because he used to assist residents for more than 40 years,” said David Sosah, the association’s vice chair.

“He was evicted at night and I remember him asking in the residents’ WhatsApp group for assitance because his things were being thrown out, residents came out and assisted him but it was brutal for the county government to come at night.” 

Sosah recalled that he spoke to Lui about one month ago and he told him that life had changed away from the city. “Somebody who was used to living in certain way at that age, I think that was a very distressing to him,” he said

According to the residents, the county had promised to compensate those evicted with a Sh900,000 relocation fee but only half of the residents received the money.

“Out of about 43 people, only 22 were paid and the rest were not paid and this is what they have been fighting for, and it is unfortunate that Sammy Lui was among those that was not paid, he passed on fighting for it,” the Association chairman added

The association said President Ruto had directed William Ruto directed a formation of Reconciliation Committee that agreed that all the residents be compensated but this is yet to happen.

They added that another mistake by the current administration was cancellation of a legal rent waiver by the previous administration so as to create arrears in tenant rental cards at city hall.

“It is more than one year now and about 20 people have not received the cash yet their homes were demolished, we are wondering what happened yet the governor himself made a promise,” the residents said.