Nairobi: Life slowly returning to demolished Nyama Villa estate

Some of the demolished buildings included residential houses, homes, schools and churches.

According to residents, the demolitions have disrupted livelihoods, leaving many landlords and tenants counting serious losses.

“The recent demolitions have greatly affected lives of many people here. I know some previous homeowners who now live in rented houses after their homes were demolished,” said James Makena, a resident of Nyama Villa.

Following the recent demolitions, thousands of families have left the estate, with businesses now struggling to survive in a chaotic economic environment.

A shop owner in the estate told Wananchi Reporting that business has not been favourable since the demolitions.

“The demolition happened in December, just as January was approaching, and this is usually a very challenging time because of the festivities,” said Alphonse Ketti, a small-time shopkeeper in the estate.

Today, mountains of rubble occupy large sections of the estate. These were houses, but now they stand as painful reminder to 'previous' owners and occupiers.

A previous tenant who did not wish to be named told Wananchi reporting that he lost a piece of land he inherited from his deceased father.

“I woke up one morning and realised that I had been refunded money, around Ksh300, 000, that I had paid towards the land,” he said.

He said that communication had early been sent notifying landlords, including himself, that they would be refunded their money.

“Take notice that our client shall only exempt plots paid for in full and all person occupying plots which have not been fully paid for should immediately vacate the property,” read the notice in part.

 The developer, referred to as Muthithi Real Estate Company, is said to have issued the demolition orders to those who defied the plan to pay for the land.

The National Police Service, through a statement signed by NPS Spokesperson Resila Onyango, said at the time that the demolitions stemmed from a private battle between private entities.

"The order dated May 13, 2013 required the defendants, their agents, and or their servants who had defaulted to vacate the suit property, failure to which the individuals and structures would be removed from the suit property," NPS said in a statement.

Even as dust settles, many are just now trying to collect whatever was left of their lives.