More than 200 families in Changamwe, Mombasa County, are living in fear of eviction after the government's notice requiring them to vacate their homes to pave the way for an affordable housing project expired.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The residents say they have spent the past seven days in uncertainty, unsure of when the demolition could begin, with many claiming they have nowhere else to relocate if the eviction is carried out.

Some of the affected families are now appealing to the Ministry of Lands to grant them more time to vacate or provide them with alternative accommodation as they make arrangements to move.

Others, however, insist they will not leave the houses, arguing that they have lived there for years and consider them their rightful homes despite the planned redevelopment.

📌 What You Need to Know

"Houses are here, and ministers in previous governments came here telling us that these are our houses. Well, if they intend to construct, they should just relocate us to the already completed houses as they work in this area," said resident Evans Ajoro.

The residents further claim that the planned eviction is proceeding despite an ongoing court case, saying their attempts to have the process halted have so far been unsuccessful.

Some of them questioned how the government expected them to vacate without offering an alternative place to live, saying many families had no means of securing new accommodation.

The residents also questioned what would happen to the earlier two months' rent deposit they had previously paid, claiming they had not received any communication on whether the money would be refunded or transferred to another housing scheme.

According to the eviction notice, the affected residents were required to vacate the houses three days ago.  About 170 housing units are earmarked for demolition, with more than 800 people expected to be affected if the exercise proceeds .

Lawyers representing the residents argue that the planned eviction violates existing court orders.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke