High Court stops eviction of Ngara Railway Southern Zone residents

This is after the residents, under the Ngara Railway Southern Zone Resident Association, moved to court seeking to block their removal from the estate.

The group, comprised largely of retirees and senior citizens—many of whom are former employees of the Kenya Railways Corporation—argued that they had lived in the estate for decades, with some raising their children and grandchildren at the premises.

"The Petitioner avers that some of its members run businesses such as garages, schools, clinics, furniture shops and mini shops which serve the area residents and have obtained various licences from the authorities to do so," read a petition in part.

"Any disruption with their current location not only amounts to their loss of business but a total closure as their businesses depend on the estate's population hence a total loss of livelihood for all the families which depend on such businesses which shall be affected by the intended eviction.

The residents claim that on April 16, they were informed that they would be evicted on May 5 without being issued any formal notice. They told the court that they were later shocked to see a newspaper advertisement announcing the property's sale on April 17.

In their petition, they argued that they had not been consulted or included in any decisions concerning either the alleged sale or the intended eviction, despite their long-term occupancy and interest in the property.

The association also raised concerns about the legality of the current trustees of the Kenya Railways Corporation Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, stating that the matter is currently being challenged in the High Court.

 Justice Judy Omange ordered the respondents, the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme and the Attorney General, to file a response within 14 days.

The matter will be presented for hearing on June 11.