By Jeckonia Otieno
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| A violent scene in Mathare after the 2007 bungled elections. |
NAIROBI; KENYA: All the occupants of a five-storey residential building get notices from their landlord to quit, reason being that renovations are to be undertaken in the houses or that they have been inconsistent in paying rent.
To some this is just that, but to others it is another ploy to do away with some people before the elections.
Despite presence of Provincial Administration and a tough talking police service Mathare residents continue to suffer.
In Mathare North Area 1 and 2, a number of residents are complaining that landlords are carrying out evictions.
Residents, who spoke to The Standard On Saturday, suspect that the March 4 elections could be behind events in the area. At least five landlords have given their tenants notices to move out in the two areas.
Vacation notice
Since December, last year, tenants in the five buildings got notices to vacate the houses for different reasons ranging from non-payment of rent to intended renovations.
One of the buildings had 76 rooms while another had 45. In one of them the notice to quit given to all occupants read thus in part: “...it has been difficult to retain you as a tenant due to failure on your part to pay for electricity consumption, failure to pay for house rent and late rent payments... You are expected to move out by end of January.”
Investigations point to a trend that might just be potentially explosive – with the elections just more than one month away.
Simmering tension might be propped by ethnic undertones and deep-rooted mistrust, the past elections and violence witnessed in 2007/2008. Mathare was one of Nairobi’s hotspots.
Mr Samuel Runga, who works in a barbershop in the Mathare North Area Two, says he was given a notice to vacate the one-room house he occupied, last year.
“The agent told me to move because renovations had to be done and I duly obeyed and had to look for accommodation elsewhere,” says Runga.
However, five months after he moved, the house has never been renovated and new tenants have occupied the rooms that were also vacated by other people. Coincidentally, those asked to vacate were from two communities.
He suspects that ethnicity might have played a big role in the evictions.
Runga says: “I passed by the building and realised that no renovations had taken place yet that was the cited intention for me and others to vacate.”
Others share his view though most prefer to speak in hushed tones.
Residents also cite arbitrary hiking of rent as another ploy that is being used by landlords to force some tenants out.
Sometimes rents are raised by even up to 50 per cent, which eventually forces many occupants to move out.
Ms Caroline Sella, a mother of two, says that landlords have moved from what was the trend over a year ago whereby prospective tenants would be asked to produce their identification cards to determine their ethnic background.
‘Wrong community’
Sella says: “If you were from a perceived wrong community, then you would not get a house but now that has changed after the media highlighted it and the landlords have resorted to using uncouth ways to make people leave.”
She was served with a letter to vacate to pave way for renovations.
“Why now? And why is it like a wave that has coincidentally struck landlords?” she poses.
Other tenants who have been given notices to vacate have also questioned the timing of the move, arguing the houses being single or double rooms, it is curious how painting them would take four months unless the renovations include structural works.
Due to the volatile situation after the last General Election, there are claims that informal organisations and gangs are taking over the area, most of them foot soldiers of local politicians.
An opinion leader in the area who wished not to be named due to the gravity of the matter has urged security agencies to move with speed and address the situation.
The leader says: “When you hear of firearms being brought into the estate, and a certain group of people saying that they would not be caught off guard this time round, then know something is not right.”
He says among the people stoking tension are leaders who are campaigning to be county representatives, and singled out four who have been accused of funding criminals gangs.
The opinion leader further claims that the gangs have been used to threaten landlords hence the wave of evictions.
Ms Anette Awinja fears that emergence of the gangs could be a pointer to a major showdown which has forced landlords to make difficult decisions.
She reveals that cases of mugging and theft have increased significantly in the area and could be behind recent evictions. The local Provincial Administration seems to be aloof to the happenings if the responses they give to questions fielded about the issue are anything to by.
Chief’s denial
An assistant chief in the area, Paul Mulinge, said landlords are not evicting people and only those who had not paid rent were being targeted.
Mr Mulinge defended the landlords despite evidence of eviction letters that are copied to the chief’s office.
Contacted for comment, Roy Sambu DO Ruth Bisase said she has not received any complaints.
“No information has reached my desk, so I am not in a position to comment and unless I get the information then I would be in a position to act,” said the administrator.
Nairobi PPO, Jasper Ombati says police are on the ground to avert any eventuality.
“We have officers on the ground and there should be no cause for alarm because after what happened in Mathare recently we have to be vigilant,” says Mr Ombati. On the issue of aspirants hiring gangs, he says this could just be rowdy campaigners but warned that criminal elements will face the full force of the law.
“The Government will not, and I repeat will not, tolerate such nonsense whatsoever so if there is anyone who is planning to cause chaos, let them be prepared, he warns.”
Despite assurance of security Mathare residents continue to live in fear following a surge in crime and arson attacks.
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