The controversy surrounding the relocation of Kibera residents close to railway line took a twist on Friday when landlords alleged there is plan to lock them out of the list of beneficiaries.
This emerged during a meeting held at Kianda that brought together the Relocation Management Unit (ReMU) officials and the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) including the Landlords, structure owners, and Ngazi ya Chini (a local-based lobby group concerned with the ensuring the safe relocation of those residing beside the railway line).
The structure owners have raised concerns over what they term as attempt by ReMU to deny them houses yet they are among those who have been affected by the demolition of houses built next to the railway line.
Hezron Konzolo is a victim who was forced to demolish his three rental houses in Soweto as required under the relocation project. He claims that his name is not in the list of those who are set to benefit from the new houses.
“My three rental houses were demolished and my tenants were registered for relocation. I am left wondering what will be next for me because as it stands now, landlords are not recognised under the Relocation Action Plan,” he said.
His sentiments have been echoed by Ngazi ya Chini Chairman Peter Bondi who has expressed his disappointment in the manner in which ReMU is conducting the relocation process.
“I am not Happy with ReMU, they have changed everything to an extent that the structure owners are no longer considered. We are aware of imposters who are set to benefit from these new houses at the expense the affected persons,” he said.
Bondi added, “ReMU has gone against the agreement because this was supposed to be a community driven project not ReMU’s project.”
However, ReMU Team Leader Eng Vitalis Ong’ong’o has rubbished the claims by saying that there is no foul play in the relocation process since all the those whose houses were demolished are still in the register as all the names were recorded in 2010.
“We are not doing anything contrary nor are we selling houses. We use the community to carry out the work and therefore we have no hand in such allegations,” he said
“We are building about 9,005 houses that are worth about Sh7 billion courtesy of World Bank, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Kenya Railway. All these are for the benefit of the Project Affected Persons,” he added.