“We Paid Rent, But They Still Threw Us Out!” >> Nairobi Tenants Cry Foul Over Brutal Evictions

Families left homeless as Nairobi County accused of secret house sales, intimidation, and illegal evictions. 

Tensions are boiling over in Nairobi estates as outraged tenants accuse the county government of orchestrating illegal evictions, despite tenants claiming they had paid their rent in full. 

This week, dozens of families were forcefully removed from county-owned homes across Nairobi. Eyewitnesses say unidentified individuals, allegedly hired by county officials, stormed into houses, damaged property, looted valuables, and paraded around wearing the evictees’ clothes in broad daylight. 

“I had just left City Hall when I got the call,” lamented one shaken tenant. “By the time I returned, my house had been broken into, my bags were gone, and strangers were walking around in my clothes. I had cleared my rent. Why is this happening?” 

Residents say the evictions are not about rent arrears, but a hidden agenda to reclaim the houses for private resale. Many reported receiving no eviction notice and were shocked to learn they had been removed from the official rent payment system. 

“Who was receiving our money if we’re no longer in the system?” one tenant asked angrily. 

Attempts to get clarity from housing authorities have proven fruitless. Tenants say estate officers and housing officials have refused to take responsibility. 

“When we asked what was happening, the estate officer claimed to know nothing. Even the housing director denied any involvement,” said another displaced resident. 

Multiple sources allege that the evictions are part of a covert scheme to sell off the prime estate houses. Some residents claim to have evidence that the homes have already been allocated to new owners at prices of up to Ksh2.5 million. 

“These homes have been in our families for decades,” said a resident of over 30 years. “Now they’re being snatched from us in the most inhumane way possible.” 

The evictions are reportedly part of a broader county-wide operation targeting tenants in county-owned estates. Affected areas include Woodley, Kariobangi South, Kariakor, Ngara, Uhuru Estate, New Pumwani, Lumbumba, Maringo, and Ofafa Jericho. 

While county officials claim the crackdown targets unpaid rent, residents and civil society groups insist due process is being ignored. 

Human rights activists are now calling for urgent investigations into the evictions, demanding justice for affected families and accountability from county leadership. 

“This is not governance, it’s a hostile takeover of public housing,” said one activist. “People deserve dignity, not eviction squads.”