Kenyan President Halts Mukuru Demolitions Following Violent Resident Clashes
Nairobi, 25 January 2026
President William Ruto personally intervened on 23rd January 2026 to stop bulldozer demolitions in Mukuru Kwa Njenga settlement after residents clashed violently with police using tear gas on 20th January. The President declared the era of forced demolitions over, criticising authorities for proceeding without proper notice or community engagement. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja condemned the unlawful operation, which aimed to expand feeder roads but threatened to displace hundreds of thousands of low-income residents. The intervention highlights Kenya’s ongoing struggle between urban development needs and residents’ rights in informal settlements.
Presidential Intervention Ends Forced Evictions
Speaking at State House on 23rd January 2026, President Ruto revealed his direct involvement in halting the demolitions, expressing his disturbance at learning authorities had proceeded without adequate notice to residents [1][2]. “Juzi niliona kuna watu wameenda kubomolea watu pale Mukuru, nikawaambia wasimamishe na wawache ujinga. Mambo ya kubomolea mwananchi nyumba na kutumia nguvu iliisha,” the President stated, which translates to stopping the “nonsense” and declaring the era of demolishing citizens’ houses using force as over [1][2]. The President emphasised that forced demolitions and the use of force against citizens must end, advocating instead for collaborative approaches with communities [1][2].
Violent Clashes Prompt Government Response
The demolitions, which commenced on Tuesday 21st January 2026, involved bulldozers and security forces entering the settlement whilst residents attempted to block the exercise [1][2]. On 20th January, residents clashed with police and tried to prevent machinery access, leading to officers deploying tear gas to control the volatile situation [1][2]. The high-tension demolitions were linked to an attempted expansion of feeder roads within the settlement, triggering fierce responses from both residents and local leaders who opposed the forced displacement [1][2]. These confrontations highlighted the deep-seated tensions between urban development initiatives and community rights in Kenya’s informal settlements.
Governor Condemns Unlawful Operations
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja strongly condemned the demolition operation, categorically denying that any county government approval had been granted for the work [1][2]. Sakaja described the ongoing exercise as unlawful and called for compensation for those affected, emphasising that both county and national authorities must engage communities before such actions proceed [1]. The Governor’s intervention underscored the lack of coordination between different levels of government and the absence of proper planning approvals or respect for residents’ rights during the demolition process [1].
Mukuru’s Development Challenges and Future Prospects
Mukuru Kwa Njenga, home to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents, has long been at the centre of development debates and resettlement efforts [1][2]. Last year, the government made progress in its affordable housing programme within the settlement, launching thousands of new housing units to provide safer alternatives to informal structures [1][2]. However, many residents still live in densely packed and precarious conditions, with past efforts at relocation and engagement proving uneven [1][2]. President Ruto outlined the government’s alternative approach, stating: “We have a way that we can work with Kenyans and make them understand, and we give them alternative settlements as we develop our slum areas” [1][2]. Community leaders and human rights groups have repeatedly warned that aggressive demolition tactics risk displacing vulnerable families without adequate compensation or alternative homes [1][2].