THOUSANDS OF KIBAGARE SLUM DWELLERS IN WESTLANDS FACE POTENTIAL EVICTIONS

Aug 1st, 2016

George Kidi Kiprono

Kibagare Slum Dwellers demonstrating peacefully on Aug 1, 2016 led by Westlands MP Hon Tim Wanyonyi against an illegal verbal eviction notice issued by the Nairobi School Principal.

At least ten thousand Kibagare Slum dwellers  are threatened with eviction from their homes and businesses following a verbal eviction notice which sources point to the nearby Nairobi School Principal.

According to the Kibagare Informal Settlement leadership, last week, the Deputy President visited Nairobi School and was notified by the school the need to set up a perimeter wall to cordon off the school land.

 A day after the visit, the Kibagare leaders were summoned for a meeting with the principal of the school where he told them that a wall is supposed to be built on the disputed land which is about 4 acres. He was categorical that the land belongs to Nairobi School and the residents have no option but to voluntarily leave or be forcefully evicted.

 The principal of Nairobi school informed them that a surveyor was scheduled to visit Kibagare on Monday, Aug 1, 2016 to pave way for the wall construction which is to start on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016. Should the eviction take place more than 10,000 people will be displaced.

Westlands MP's Intervention

Westlands MP Hon Tim Wanyonyi has this afternoon stood in solidarity with the residents in a peaceful demonstration held in the informal settlement. He has cautioned the residents not to allow any land grabber to displace them. 

"Kibagare belongs to people from Kibagare. We will do whatever is within our means to ensure residents obtain title deeds. I will visit the National Land Commission to legalize this informal settlement. We will not allow any form of evictions irrespective of amount of force that will be used. I will stand in solidarity with you and file a petition in parliament to legalize this informal settlement. I will tomorrow go to court to file an injunction against any eviction in Kibagare,"he said.

Westlands MP Hon Tim Wanyonyi addressing residents of Kibagare Slum Dwellers during the peaceful demonstrations on Aug 1, 2016

In a statement he posted on his facebook page the Westlands MP Hon Tim Wanyonyi condemned the planned demolition of the Kibagare Informal Settlements citing that it has no legal basis. He called upon the Kenyan government to put an immediate end to mass evictions until the necessary legal safeguards are put in place to protect slum dwellers' rights.

Key Facts, History and Details About Kibagare

The settlement is situated in Kitusuru Location. Kibagare village was established in 1972 by coffee plantation workers, who had labored on the colonial farm now known as Loresho estate. Before leaving, the farm owners sold the land to private individuals who did not need the service of the workers. Having no business in the farm after the change of ownership these workers settled on a Kenya Railways reserve and remain there today.

THREAT TO LAND TENURE

Several calamities have befallen the community, including a fire in 1985 that nearly destroyed the village and another in 1987 that left three people dead. In 1990, the central Government carried out a demolition of the settlement, and several Kibagare residents died in the forceful swoop that was aimed at eradicating informal settlements in Nairobi

The Government in 1991 settled 170 people on alternative land in Embakasi Division, many residents were left out of the resettlement. Some moved elsewhere, though the majority was able to remain and continues to reside in the settlement.

Apart from the 1990 demolition, no one has ever claimed ownership of this land, which may reflect its status as a road and railway reserve.

LAND

Since Kibagare is situated on a road/railway reserve, this public utility land is under the trusteeship of the

Nairobi City Council. Residents believe the land measures 7 acres in total, the settled area comprising at least

4 acres.

POPULATION

An estimated 15,000 people, or 3,000 households, live in the settlement. These households each occupy a single room, although a few live in 2 rooms.

HOUSING

There is a mixture of structure owners and tenants in the settlement. About 60% of the structure- owners have two rooms each, while the others own between 8-10 rooms. Some are very highly-placed individuals in the local and central Government, and fewer than 30% actually reside in Kibagare.

Materials used in house construction include old iron sheets, cartons and mud/wattle poles, though there is a row of structures made of new iron sheets. Fewer than 40% of the structures have cement floors.

Local administration officers and elders charge steep allocation fees, which range from Ksh. 10,000 for space behind the front row housing. The charge for space to build one and two-roomed structures in the front row are Ksh 15,000 and 25,000 respectively,

Rents range between Ksh. 500 for the relatively new rooms that have cement floors and Ksh. 450 for the old rooms without cement floors.

SERVICES

In addition to 7 private latrines, there are 4 communal latrine structures with 3 doors each but no bathrooms. The 16 latrine doors translate to a ratio of 938 people per latrine. Because the facilities are not evenly distributed in the settlement residents must use open spaces or flying toilets.There is no water drainage in the entire settlement and water drains freely from the structures to the road, where it forms small pools.Garbage collection is not centralized and dumping occurs throughout Kibagare, blighting the area and posing significant health risks.The settlement is served with piped water, with 12 points providing free access to water.There is no electricity in this settlement.An all-weather road serving the neighbouring Loresho Estate provides access to Kibagare, but promptly deteriorates to an earth road when entering the settlement.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

About 40% of the residents are involved in small-scale business in the village or in the nearby Kagemi market, with women especially active as small-scale traders. Another 20% are involved in casual employment, typically as domestic laborers in Loresho, Westlands and Spring Valley areas. Fewer than 10% of residents are in full- time employment; the rest are either housewives or unemployed.

The settlement has received assistance from the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, who also run the St. Martin Centre Kibagare in the settlement.