Thousands of people have been displaced in Kenya after a major slum was demolished on Monday.
Kenyan officials say the slum is stopping the construction of a new $20m dual carriage way in the capital Nairobi.
The slum in Kibera constituency is the biggest in Nairobi and is home to over 20,000 people.
Daily Nation reports that the slum dwellers were given notice to vacate the area but failed.
The residents looked on helpless as their homes were pulled down by bulldozers.
One youth leader was quoted by Daily Nation as saying that “While the road construction is noble as it will open up our area for development and enhance security, the manner in which the demolitions are being carried out is unfair to many.”
The slum dwellers have for months battled with Kenyan officials in court over the planned demolishing.
They lost the case after a judge ruled that the road construction was of more importance to the city.
Kenyan officials say the slum dwellers were illegally occupying the place. Amnesty International has condemned the eviction.
“The goal of adequate and dignified housing cannot be met by stripping 30,000 inhabitants of the only houses, shops, clinics and schools they have,” the group said in a statement.
Amnesty International Kenya executive director Irungu Houghton said “Demolition before the completion of a resettlement action plan betrays the public trust and violates the law. These evictions must be halted.”
Five resource centres, four schools and two hospitals were among the structures flattened, according to Daily Nation.
The road construction is expected to ease traffic in the Nairobi city centre.
Source: Africafeeds.com
