Nairobi County MP, Hon. Esther Passaris has condemned the Government for its approach to demolishing structures and buildings constructed along riparian land near Nairobi Rivers, stating that the exercise is violating basic human rights.

While contributing on the Floor of the House on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Hon. Passaris said the majority of the victims whose homes are built in flood-prone areas in Nairobi slums, primarily women and children, were not given any notice to vacate their structures.

She pointed out that in spite of the demolitions, victims were not provided with alternative shelter and were left to suffer and count their losses.

“If we had identified the affected families, we could have easily budgeted for them by establishing the number of people needing relocation, their names, and allocating funds accordingly,” Hon. Passaris said.

The county MP also raised concern with the amount of money being given by the Government as compensation proposing not less than Kshs.50,000 per family as opposed to the current Kshs.10,000.

In particular, Hon. Passaris accused the National Government and Nairobi City County of failing its citizens saying the land on which the structures were constructed was given a title deed and construction of the structures was approved by the local authorities.

“The people living on riparian land, whose houses are being demolished, are victims of Government failure. We approved their building plans; they didn’t just wake up and build,” she said.

While supporting the need to address the dilapidated state of Nairobi rivers and the need to reclaim riparian land to safeguard citizens, she emphasized that these actions must be carried out ethically.

“If we had budgeted properly, we could have implemented structures to ensure a humane approach when dealing with the citizens of Kenya, who expect the Government to provide for them,” she noted.