Kahawa West family left homeless after goons torch homes in land dispute

The family of Njunge Nduati said the violence targeted a one-acre parcel they claim is ancestral land, insisting it was transferred to their father by their late grandfather in 1997.

Witnesses said the attack happened on Sunday night, when about 50 armed men arrived in a lorry and began demolishing houses before setting them on fire.

“They came at night and demolished all the houses… after they finished they burnt them and poured petrol… they were masked… it was around 3am,” said Mbugua Elvis, one of the victims.

He said his pregnant wife was forced to flee during the attack and was taken to hospital after the ordeal.

“My wife was pregnant… when they invaded she got shocked and we had to run to hospital as an emergency… they wanted to burn her inside the house,” he said.

The family claimed they sought help at Maziwa Police Post as the events unfolded but no action was taken.

They also questioned the legitimacy of an eviction order they said was dropped inside the compound while the operation was already underway.

“We are asking that the court can hear us so that we know what is going on… because we are being dispossessed,” Mbugua said.

A village elder, James Matiba, also cast doubt on the alleged court order, saying a lawful process would have required parties to be heard in court before enforcement.

The family said among those displaced is an elderly widow, who appealed for help as relatives tried to salvage what remained and seek alternative shelter.

Police at Kasarani Police Station said they are investigating what they described as two separate attacks and are also seeking to validate the eviction order, which was allegedly issued by the Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court.