Thousands of people living in Makongeni estate in Makadara on Saturday protested over forceful eviction by the government to pave the way for the affordable housing programme.
The residents engaged police officers in running battles for the better part of the day at the Kenya Railways offices, where they had gone to confirm their names to receive payment. The accused the government of failing to pay a majority of them a total of Sh150,000 before evicting them from the houses.
They lamented over the eviction date of November 22, yet an earlier eviction notice said they should vacate the houses by December 2.
Mr Samuel Maina, the Chairperson of Makongeni Residents Association, claimed that only a few of the residents affiliated with local political leaders had received the promised payment.
“All we want is goodwill in the implementation of this project. There is a lot of discrimination on those who are receiving the payment. The local leaders have taken up the process and they are giving names of those affiliated to them while leaving out the residents,” Mr Maina said.
The 139-hectare area covered by dilapidated houses, which has been home to Makongeni residents for many years, has been earmarked for modern housing.
A aerial view of Makongeni estate in Nairobi on November 22, 2025 amid looming demolitions.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
According to the Affordable Housing Board, the site will deliver a master-planned community combining residential blocks, commercial space, schools, health facilities, green parks, civic amenities and modern infrastructure.
“Of the 139 acres, 75 have been allocated for housing — a mix of social, affordable, and market-rate units in mid- and high-rise buildings. The rest will host retail and office hubs, recreational areas, early-childhood centres, primary and secondary schools, a vocational institute, a community health centre, public service spaces, and utility infrastructure including roads, stormwater systems, solar fields and transit nodes,” the board said in a media brief sent to newsrooms.
The project, under development by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, is intended to serve as the country’s first fully integrated “new urban district,” offering walkable neighbourhoods, climate-resilient designs and employment opportunities expected to emerge from construction and long-term commercial activity.
Residents of Makongeni estate cart away their belongings after being evicted by the government on November 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The Affordable Housing Board however, insists that more than 4,600 verified households and commercial spaces were enumerated, documented and supported to vacate the area through a multi-step process that included barazas, identification verification, grievance resolution, tracing of absent families and home visits.
The communication was also done multiple languages, Swahili, Sheng, and SMS, and that households moved only after signing consent forms and receiving financial facilitation.
A previous public meeting that was meant to clear the air on rumours that bulldozers would descend the area by November 22 was disrupted by angry youths who claimed to have been left out in the entire exercise.
During the eviction on Saturday, most of the houses were vandalized leaving several families homeless. Residents also complained that they were missing out on the list of those who were supposed to receive funds with other names duplicated.
Residents of Makongeni estate load their belongings into a lorry following their eviction by the government on November 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Mr Omondi Otieno, who is the Secretary of Makongeni Residents Association said they are not against the programme, but against the means that the government is using, which he said has left out the occupants.
“We are not opposed to the affordable housing program. The issue is that we have not been given attention. We have said that let the process be transparent, let us come to the table and have a dialogue together…. there is no good will in this and we are going to stand our ground and we are going to make sure that our voices are heard,” Mr Otieno said.
He also questioned why the local leaders, led by the area MP and MCA, remained silent. According to the secretary, the residents have been left confused and uncertain whether they will be able to celebrate Christmas in peace, given that eviction could happen at any time.
Residents of Makongeni estate cart away their belongings after they were evicted from the estate by the government on November 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“We need to be involved so that those who have kids in schools can plan how to relocate. As human beings, we are not psychologically prepared to start a new neighbor.”
Another resident, Jane Juma, asked President William Ruto to convene a meeting with the residents to shed light on the matter and assure them that they will be allocated the houses.
“What we are demanding is dialogue. If that happens and we have our concerns raised, we will be willing to move out the next day. We want to have a conversation with the President face to face, not though some of the local leaders who have turned to be brokers,” Ms Juma said.
She said the area has three schools including a secondary school, where children from the area and those outside have been attending and moving them out hurriedly will cause unnecessary inconveniences to the parents.
