Chaos erupted in Mukuru slums, Nairobi, when a group attacked and chased government officials demolishing houses in riparian areas.
This came after reports emerged that the eviction team might have caused the deaths of at least two children in the area during their actions, according to the police.
Locals, angered by the incident, grouped together and forced the eviction team to flee the scene. Among the deceased was a five-year-old boy who was crushed by rubble after a structure collapsed on him in the area. Another body was discovered in the debris hours later on Sunday, with police launching an investigation into the incident.
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old boy was killed by another eviction team in Mathare slums on Monday, sparking protests in the area shortly after President William Ruto had visited to assess flood-affected areas.
The Mukuru incident occurred when a group of about 50 people approached the multi-agency team demolishing houses and evicting residents near riparian land. The team was accompanied by police officers, who attempted to stop the chaos to no avail. Despite firing shots into the air and using tear gas canisters, the officers were unable to control the situation as protesters pelted the team with stones and twigs, forcing them to retreat. One excavator was damaged during the chaos.
Locals reported that the victim in the Sunday incident was attempting to salvage their belongings when they sustained a fatal head injury.
Tensions are mounting in the affected areas, with resistance growing against the evictions. While police assert that the affected individuals must move for their own safety, the victims are demanding alternative housing arrangements.
Ruto announced that those evicted would receive Ksh10,000 each, as well as food and bedding. These developments were prompted by ongoing heavy rains and flooding that have claimed more than 230 lives across the country, with over 40 deaths reported in Nairobi alone.
School reopening has been postponed due to the rains. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki reported that about 164 people were injured and 72 were missing due to the floods, with over 41,000 households displaced, affecting approximately 212,000 people.
Approximately 227,000 people have been impacted by the heavy rains, with 1,967 schools also affected. Multi-agency teams, including the Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service, are coordinating rescue efforts and providing assistance to displaced people.
