Families cry foul as Nairobi County launches surprise evictions in long-disputed estate battle
Nairobi, Kenya — A quiet Friday morning in Woodley Estate turned into a nightmare for dozens of families as county officials descended unannounced, throwing out tenants and their belongings over what they claim are unresolved rent arrears. Mattresses, baby clothes, pots, and framed family photos now lay scattered along the roadsides — tragic souvenirs of a decades-long legal dispute that has come to a boiling point.
The evictions, which began in the early hours of May 9, have left scores of residents homeless, hopeless, and furious. More than just a housing dispute, the dramatic scenes unfolding in the heart of Nairobi are raising critical questions about the rule of law, the right to shelter, and whether Kenya’s urban poor are being slowly erased from city centers in the name of development.
“They came without warning. No notice, no respect for the court. Just threw us out like trash,” said Sam Gachago, a father of three who has lived in Woodley for over 20 years. “We had a court order in hand. Milimani Court gave us an injunction just yesterday. But they didn’t care.”
A County’s Power vs. A Community’s Plea
At the heart of the chaos is a bitter, years-long battle over rent arrears. Nairobi County officials insist that the residents have failed to pay what is legally owed for public housing units, and that legal pathways for eviction have been fully exhausted.
“We are simply following the law,” stated Lydia Mathia, Nairobi’s County Executive for Lands and Housing. “Our intention is not malicious; tenants must be accountable.”
But for the evicted families, the official narrative doesn’t hold water.
“This is not about rent. This is about pushing us out so they can grab the land,” shouted an elderly woman as county workers dragged her furniture to the curb. “They want to build new apartments and sell them. We are in the way.”
The evictees argue that the rent arrears the county is demanding were miscalculated — inflated through bureaucratic oversight or, worse, deliberate targeting of residents who challenged prior county policies.
Ignoring the Court?
The most damning accusation against the county is its alleged defiance of a standing court injunction. According to residents, the Milimani court issued an order on May 8 barring any evictions until the matter was fully heard. County officials claim they never received the document.
“Court orders are not decorative,” Gachago emphasized. “They are legally binding instruments. Ignoring them is contempt — plain and simple.”
If confirmed, Nairobi County’s actions could spark a serious legal and political backlash, potentially even opening the door to lawsuits for property damage and abuse of office.
A Broader Trend?
Woodley is not alone. Similar evictions have been witnessed in Pangani, Kaloleni, and other estates where the government has been trying to reclaim public housing. Many fear that the current drive is less about justice and more about profit — clearing prime land for private development under the guise of reclaiming dues.
“It’s a silent war on the poor,” said a human rights observer on-site. “Urban renewal cannot mean displacing people who’ve lived here their entire lives without alternatives.”
As the county eyes redevelopment projects and public-private partnerships in housing, critics say Nairobi risks becoming a city for the elite — sanitized of its working-class backbone.
A Legal Storm Brews
With tempers flaring and families sleeping on the roadside, the evictees say they will return to court this week to demand accountability. Some are calling for a county-wide moratorium on evictions until a thorough investigation into the legality and conduct of enforcement is completed.
“If the government can throw people out with a court order in their hands,” said Gachago, “then no one is safe. Today it’s Woodley. Tomorrow, it could be you.”
As Kenya prepares for local elections and national housing reforms, the Woodley eviction saga is shaping up to be more than just a neighborhood story — it’s a battle over whose right to the city matters most.