The Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday held a high-level consultative session with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, petitioners, and key stakeholders to address concerns surrounding planned evictions in Korogocho and an alleged land conversion in Pumwani.
The meeting, chaired by Sen. Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), brought together representatives from the Nairobi Rivers Commission, the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque Committee, and community petitioners from the affected areas
A major focus of the session was a petition challenging the potential eviction of Korogocho residents living along the Nairobi River Corridor after its designation as a Special Planning Area (SPA). Petitioners argued that the move could displace thousands of families without adequate clarity on compensation, relocation plans or public participation.
Governor Sakaja defended the county’s actions, saying the Constitution obligates all levels of government to balance individual rights with environmental protection and sustainable development. He pointed to Article 10(2)(d) and key statutes including the County Governments Act, the Urban Areas and Cities Act, and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019) as guiding frameworks.
Sakaja noted that Nairobi faces heightened environmental risks due to unregulated development, waste pollution and climate-related rainfall fluctuations—factors that contributed to serious floods in 2016, 2020, 2023, and 2024.
“These tragedies highlight the urgent need for intervention to save lives,” he said.
The Governor affirmed that no demolitions or survey pegging had occurred in Korogocho.
“Residents of Korogocho are very special to me, and any inhuman eviction is wrong. However, the law governing riparian corridors must be followed. Where relocation is necessary, compensation must be fair,” he stated.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission emphasized that declaring the Nairobi River Corridor a Special Planning Area does notauthorize forced or unprocedural evictions. The Commission insisted that any relocation must follow due process, including the preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan and provision of fair compensation.
It further indicated that residents temporarily displaced during flood response operations would be identified by National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) for compensation and prioritization in nearby social housing projects.
The Committee also examined a petition by the Cultural Environmental Care Society (CECARE) regarding LR No. 209/2378/1 in Pumwani Majengo, where petitioners claim that public land may have been irregularly converted into private property. They urged the Senate to intervene to protect the land from unlawful alienation.
The Sen. Faki–led Committee is expected to invite the relevant national government ministries for further consultations before compiling a comprehensive report, which will guide future action on both the Korogocho eviction concerns and the Pumwani land dispute.
