Mombasa demolitions leave hundreds homeless

Hundreds of families in Kibarani and Miritini are counting losses after their homes and businesses were demolished in a joint operation by Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Railways targeting illegal structures built on reserve land.

The demolitions, which began on Friday, caught many residents off guard.

The operation targeted illegal structures sitting on land belonging to the two state corporations, with officials citing safety and infrastructure expansion as the reasons for the evictions.

“This land belongs to Kenya Railways and Kenya Pipeline. We issued adequate notices to vacate, but unfortunately, some people ignored them,” said a Kenya Railways official who requested anonymity.

But residents and traders in the affected areas dismissed the claim, saying they were not issued with any formal notice.

“They never gave us anything in writing. If they had, we would have gone to court to stop the demolition. They claimed it’s a 30-metre buffer zone, yet some people were left untouched. Why the double standards,” said Mr Wycliffe Omondi, the chairperson of business owners in Miritini.

He added that some traders have operated in the area for more than 30 years and hold valid business permits.

“Where was the government all this time? We pay taxes, we have licences. Why are we suddenly being treated like squatters?” Mr Omondi asked.

According to residents, more than 400 people in Miritini have been affected.

Ms Christine Awiti, a second-hand clothes trader who has operated in the area since 2011, said she is now stranded and does not know how to support her family. “I have used this business to feed and educate my children. My husband, who worked in the EPZ, lost his leg in an accident in 2017. I am now the sole breadwinner. Where do I start?” she said.

Ms Jackline Mwashigadi said her goods are now in her house after her stall was demolished. “I have a loan of Sh200,000. I don’t know how I will repay it. My customers don’t even know where to find me,” she said.

Mr Abdallah Juma, whose house was reduced to rubble, said he has lived in the area since 1986. “This is the only home I have known for the past 39 years,” he said.

Mr Frank Ambundo, a home appliances dealer who has been operating in the area for 25 years, said some of his goods were damaged by rain after the demolitions.

Ms Purity Kagwerya, another trader, said she had just returned from Nairobi with new stock when she was ordered to vacate. “I have a loan of Sh500,000. My business is gone, and I don’t know how to pay the bank,” she said.

The traders are now pleading with the government to construct a market where they can continue with their businesses. “We are not against development, but where do you want us to go? Give us a place we can move to. Help us restart," said Mr Omondi.

Residents whose houses were flattened also appealed for temporary shelter and financial assistance.

“This was so sudden. We don’t have money to pay rent or deposits elsewhere,” said Mr Samuel Gitau.

He added that the notice was for stalls only, but homes were also brought down. "We can’t go back to the village, this is the only home we know.”

In Kibarani, some families said they spent the night in the rain with their children, uncertain of where to go next. With schools set to reopen in two weeks, many parents said they are in no position to send their children back to school.

“We haven’t even settled. How will our kids go back to school?” asked a distraught parent.