Jogoo Road residents petition state's eviction plans for affordable housing units

On Wednesday, residents of Jogoo Road Phase II filed a petition challenging the government's proposed plan to evict them from their homes in order to establish affordable housing units.

The petition was prompted by an eviction notice issued by the Ministry of Lands on February 27, instructing residents of Jogoo Road Phase 1 and 2, as well as those in Jamaa, Mbotela, Ahero and Mawenzi Garden estates, to vacate by April 30.

They were similarly ordered to hand over their houses to the Director of Estate Management.

In court documents seen by Citizen Digital, Kennedy Ochuodho and 10 other individuals, petitioned the court to issue a temporary injunction halting the evictions until the case is heard and determined.

The petitioners are representing themselves and around 335 Jogoo Road Phase II residents in the suit.

They argued that they were not consulted and asserted that there was no public participation prior to designating the houses for demolition and that the 60-day eviction notice period is insufficient.

“In fact, the government has all along led us to believe that Jogoo Road Phase 2 Government Estate was not one of the properties earmarked under the affordable housing government agenda,” argued the petitioners.

They further claimed to have lived in the estate for more than 30 years and that they were never consulted regarding demolition of the houses.