Nairobi: Chaos As Suspected Goons Attack Residents Protesting Over Illegal Constructions

• The residents claimed that Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja is aware of the corruption going on within the county government
• They vowed to pursue all avenues to compel Sakaja to act on the alleged unregulated buildings within the capital city
• However, chaos emerged when suspected goons at City Hall disrupted the protests, forcing the police to intervene

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.

Nairobi - A section of city residents has taken to the streets to protest against the alleged unlawful construction of buildings.

The protesters have levelled accusations of corruption against Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja, citing the surge in unpermitted building projects, according to a video by Kenya Human Rights Commission.

"We have seen situations where buildings are coming up unregulated and without proper paperwork. The planning and zoning have been ignored and all these are being sanctioned from Sakaja's office. There is no way he can pretend that he does not know that corruption is happening," said a protester.

Why Nairobi residents will take action against Sakaja

Expressing their frustration, one resident vowed to pursue all necessary avenues, including legal recourse, to hold the county leader accountable.

"Even after we finish protesting, we will still sit down and come up with other measures, whether it means going to court. We are going to take whatever it takes for you to hear us and stop this madness," she stated.

Furthermore, the residents attributed the city's flooding and rampant demolitions to the governor's purported involvement in poorly regulated settlements.

Chaos erupt at City Hall, Nairobi

However, tensions escalated when the peaceful demonstrators reached City Hall, with alleged goons obstructing their path.

According to footage shared by KHRC, these suspected individuals aggressively handled a man, dragging him along the road as other protesters looked on in dismay.

Fortunately, a police officer intervened amidst the chaos, coming to the man's aid and helping him to safety.

"Nairobi residents were peaceful all through, marching to deliver a petition that will force @SakajaJohnson to stop illegal constructions in the city. But at City Hall, goons unleashed chaos. Who does not want our message to be delivered?" asked KHRC.

10 trapped as Mathare building collapses

Meanwhile, the government ordered the demolition of buildings in the riparian areas that were mostly affected by floods.

In Mathare estate, a building which had been marked for demolition collapsed trapping 10 occupants.

Rescuers who rushed to the scene managed to retrieve four bodies covered by the debris.

What you need to know about Nairobi demolitions

• Eighteen-year-old KCSE student died in Mathare demolitions while rescuing church property
• Governor Sakaja's aide paid two months' rent for displaced residents of South B due to demolitions
• A section of residents in Mathare and Mukuru Kwa Njenga sums took to the streets to demonstrate the deaths of three people killed during demolitions

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Nairobi residents protest illegal construction of buildings.

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