The ongoing repossession of properties by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) has continued to cause more havoc in Kisumu, the latest victims being KR house occupants.
Over the last few months, the corporation has been seen reoccupying its land, most around the refurbished Kisumu Port and has also been going back for its grabbed pieces of land.
But the same is now expected to affect persons occupying houses owned by the corporation after it issued a one-week eviction notice to occupants of its Upper Railways Estate.
It seeks to demolish the once rosy estate which houses over 1000 families in its 880 units, according to a notice that was issued last Friday.
The same was confirmed by Secretary of the Estates Residents Association Christine Obara.
"We have 880 official units built by Kenya Railways and over 300 extensions made of iron sheets. With each household having between 5 and 10 people, approximately 10,000 people will be rendered homeless,” he is quoted by the Standard.
The notice has caused confusion and tension as occupants resort to seeking alternative homes before the deadline.
A number of them, some of whom have spent their entire lives in the estate, have lamented the move, with some claiming that some of the tenants are elderly people with nowhere to go.
Kisumu County Director of Communication Alloyce Ager suggested that some of the estate lands could be used to house traders whose stalls were demolished across the city.
He said that attempts to delay the planned demolitions will not bear any fruits as the demolitions will be done as planned.
“We will not pay any attention to any masqueraders seeking relevance with this matter. Once the notice elapses, the works will begin immediately," he said.