Senator Sifuna Tables Petition on Nairobi River Evictions, Defends Korogocho Residents
The Senate has since referred the matter to the Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources for further review and action.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has tabled a petition in the Senate calling for justice for residents of the Korogocho community, who are currently facing eviction due to the Nairobi River Corridor’s designation as a Special Planning Area by the Nairobi City County Government.
Rising to speak in the Senate chamber, Sifuna condemned what he described as inhumane and unfair treatment of the community, asserting that while environmental restoration is important, it must not come at the cost of human dignity.
“The residents of Korogocho are not against development or environmental restoration,” Sifuna stated. “However, they deserve fairness, dignity and a seat at the table where decisions about their lives are made.”
The petition, which has been signed by over 30 affected residents, highlights a series of grievances, including inadequate public participation, intimidation during evictions, unresolved compensation claims, and the lack of a clear framework for resettlement.
“It is unacceptable that a community is evicted without adequate notice, public participation, or clarity on compensation,” Sifuna said. “We are dealing with human beings who have lived in these areas for decades.”
Residents of Korogocho, a densely populated informal settlement along the Nairobi River, argue that they have made repeated efforts to engage with the Nairobi City County Government and its Executive Committee in search of dialogue and redress. However, those efforts have yielded little progress.
According to the petition, many families have already been displaced with no clear resettlement plan in place, leaving them vulnerable and exposed. Petitioners are now appealing to the Senate to intervene and push for a more humane and inclusive approach to urban planning in the city.
The Senate has since referred the matter to the Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources for further review and action.
Sifuna’s intervention has drawn both praise and attention, as it underscores the growing tension between urban redevelopment projects and the rights of informal settlement dwellers.
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