Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has delivered a blistering public warning that individuals within government ranks may be responsible for covert nighttime demolitions and evictions in the Mukuru informal settlement, prompting fears of unlawful displacement and escalating political tension.
Speaking on Sunday during a high-profile visit with President William Ruto to the AIC Pipeline area in Embakasi, Sakaja accused unnamed officials of bypassing legal channels and orchestrating unauthorized demolitions at night, a practice he branded illegal, inhumane, and in direct violation of due process.
“Your Excellency, I want to bring to your attention that there are people going behind your back and the county’s back to evict residents at night, as happened in Mukuru,” Sakaja said, underscoring the gravity of the alleged breaches.
The governor made clear he had personally intervened to halt the latest round of night operations, insisting that any infrastructure work or road access development must be carried out transparently and in partnership with the county government.
Sakaja pledged to reveal the names of those implicated in the unauthorized actions to President Ruto, raising the stakes in what could become a significant crackdown on administrative misconduct. He stressed that residents must never be evicted without proper notice, alternatives for relocation, or respect for their constitutional rights.
Mukuru residents have been at the center of public outcry following recent demolition attempts, with critics pointing to a pattern of operations carried out without prior communication or legal justification.
The governor’s remarks come as broader debates intensify over housing rights and development in Kenya’s largest informal settlements, where vulnerable communities insist protections against sudden displacement are urgently needed.
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