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Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.
The recent government-led demolitions in flood-affected areas have had a profound impact on residents, particularly those with disabilities, as highlighted in a report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
On Wednesday, May 28, KHRC revealed that one person with a disability lost their life during the ongoing demolitions in Mathare.
"We have lost one person with a disability. Right now, the poor are being made poorer because even the small houses they rented are now being demolished leaving them with nowhere to shelter. They cannot even scramble for the help that the government promised," said David Karani, Ghetto Foundation Social Justice Centre.
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"The PWDs are suffering and it means that these demolitions have not been done in a manner that ensures that the issues of those who are very vulnerable are properly mainstreamed and accorded the necessary support," added Cornelius Oduor, KHRC.
The commission further noted that many disabled individuals who were displaced due to flooding have yet to receive the promised KSh 10,000 assistance from the government.
According to testimonies from Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), many of them, particularly those reliant on wheelchairs or with visual impairments, are left homeless after their houses are demolished.
KHRC is urging for the provision of alternative shelters for those who have been evicted, along with ensuring that further harm is prevented.
Additionally, they emphasise the importance of providing adequate reparation and facilitating access to housing for all victims.
In other news, a Kayole woman was heartbroken when her house was being demolished.
The woman knelt at the riverbanks and pleaded with the officers to stop bringing down her house.
According to her, she was not informed of the impending demolitions and therefore did not have time to take out her property.
Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke
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One PWD killed during Mathare demolition, Nairobi.
Nairobi: 1 Person with Disability Killed in Mathare Demolition - Tuko.co.ke
A building is demolished in Mathare as rescue operations continue to