Lawmakers grill Duale over demolition of homes

Duale assured MPs that in the next year, he is going to ensure title deeds of riparian land are cancelled in efforts to reclaim rivers and conserve the environment. [File, Standard]

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale was grilled by Parliament yesterday over government’s failure to compensate  26,697 households after their houses built along Nairobi River were demolished following May floods.

Immediately after their homes were flattened, each household was promised Sh10,000 by the government, which Members of Parliament termed the amount paltry.

Duale who appeared before the National Assembly Environment Committee said the Sh10,000  that each family was to receive was to facilitate their evacuation.

The government was to spend Sh266.97 million in the first phase and had budgeted to use Sh4 billion in three months. 

MPs raised concerns over the 48-hour period given to affected families living in riparian land to move before demolitions as inadequate but  Duale defended the move saying they had to move very fast to save lives as 42 people had already died.

Double standards

Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch said his constituency was the worst affected asking when families evicted for building on riparian land would be fully compensated expressing concerns that buildings in affluent areas like in Kileleshwa built in riparian land were not demolished.

He said that it was wrong for the government to appear to be applying double standards because slum dwellers were treated harshly while their counterparts in affluent areas were left off the hook and that giving the affected families a paltry Sh 10,000 was unfair to them.

Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang said moving people from where they had lived for long is a an emotive issue pointing out most  did not choose to live in riparian areas but were forced by circumstances and that it was imperative for the government to be considerate when dealing with them.

Kericho County MP Beatrice Kemei said that the government should ensure due diligence is observed in the construction of buildings so as to avoid scenarios where poor Kenyans have to lose their homes through demolitions over what could have been avoided .

“The Cabinet Secretary should explain to us the constitutionality of the establishment of the Nairobi Rivers Commission including the legality of Kenya Gazette Notice No 14891 of December 2, 2022 establishing the commission and what steps the ministry will take to wind up the commission if it was found to be illegally constituted,” asked Kajwang.

Duale responded, “I would like to inform this committee that 42 people died due to flooding in Nairobi.  The Cabinet passed a resolution that those living along riparian land must vacate, the government had to take measures to ensure that no more Kenyans lost their lives,” said Duale.

He told the MPs that when the country is faced with a disaster such as floods there will be no time for public participation since the primary responsibility of the government is to ensure citizens are safe.

Duale assured MPs that in the next year, he is going to ensure title deeds of riparian land are cancelled in efforts to reclaim rivers and conserve the environment.