Raila Goes After Ruto Government Over Mukuru Demolitions

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has slammed the Kenya Kwanza government over the demolition of houses in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum.

Speaking on Friday, May 3 while distributing relief food to flood victims in Embakasi South, Raila said it was wrong for the government to demolish houses before giving Mukuru Kwa Njenga residents alternative solutions for the victims.

"These people should not demolish houses in Mukuru kwa Njenga, if they try to do so call us. If they want to relocate people, first they should build good houses for them before demolishing them.

"There is no need to demolish people's homes when there is no place for them to go, citizens are not animals,” said Raila.

His remarks come after President William Ruto issued evacuation orders to all people living in riparian lands and flood-prone areas.

"We have agreed that all those living along the riversides, in what is called the riparian reserve, starting from tomorrow, we will issue them vacation notices.

“Forty-eight hours from tomorrow, everyone should have vacated that area in the whole of Kenya because we do not want to lose the lives of citizens. As things stand, we will continue to have rains and floods will worsen,” Ruto announced on Tuesday.

The demolitions in Mukuru Kwa Njenga began on Friday morning and caught thousands of residents off gourd with their homes reduced to rubble.

On Thursday Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced that all Kenyans living in areas near water reservoirs and dams should vacate immediately or face mandatory evacuation.