Drama as residents of new Soweto flats in Kibera denied entry

NAIROBI: Residents of Soweto slums in Kibera almost exchanged blows outside the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi over a move by a stranger to bar them from occupying their new houses under the upgraded slums scheme.

It took their lawyer, Paul Amuga, over 40 minutes to calm them. The 1,766 slum dwellers under the chairmanship of Jackton Onyango Otieno had formed a co-operative society and raised 10 per cent of the purchase price of the one, two and three-bedroom units. The State sent a notice through the Lands permanent secretary to carry out a balloting exercise to enable the first batch of beneficiaries to occupy the first 624 houses.

When a non-member of the society, David Ngige Tharau, learnt of a notice to ballot issued by the PS, he filed a suit to block the exercise, claiming it was going to benefit strangers to the detriment of genuine members.

Angry residents blasted a lawyer for filing documents at the last minute opposing the Government's decision to carry out a ballot.

The Kibera slums upgrade was undertaken by retired President Mwai Kibaki and former premier Raila Odinga's regime. Justice Samson Okongo said the case would be heard on December 3.