More than 200 families in Changamwe, Mombasa County, were displaced on Sunday morning when demolitions began at the Changamwe National Housing Estate to clear land for an affordable housing project.
Residents said a court order had halted the exercise but authorities proceeded anyway. One resident stated: “If National Housing is above the law, we should be told. If the Police are above the law, we should also be told because it is not possible for a court order to be disregarded.”
Families had received a one-month eviction notice and some were sent KSh 4,000 to vacate. They described heavy police presence, claims of rough treatment and tear gas use during the operation.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga noted the project faces over 85 lawsuits, many linked to land disputes and missing title deeds. An April audit by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu found nearly 70 per cent of similar flagship projects lack formal title deeds.