The comedy of errors that is the Jubilee government just seems to never stop. In a case of one hand not knowing what the other one is doing, Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna today revealed that the government had formed a committee to probe the Ruai and Kariobangi evictions which, ironically, were ordered and carried out by the government.
Many Kenyans were confused after Oguna released the statement with many wondering how the government could investigate itself even as Oguna went ahead to give reasons why the government had ordered the evictions in the two areas.
“The Government is very concerned about demolitions in Kariobangi and Ruai that have left hundreds of people homeless. After it happened, the government did form a committee to look why that happened and why it happened at the time it happened. The whole incident is being looked into by the government committee.”
“It must also be known that some of the settlers did have ownership documents such as title deeds. Part of the investigation will look into this because it is known that the land belonged to Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company and had been earmarked for expansion of sewerage services in Nairobi,” Oguna said while speaking to NTV.
Moses Kuria among 4 MPs removed from House committees
We demand to speak to Uhuru! Kariobangi residents barricade Outer Ring road
Thank you for repossessing Ruai sewage land-Francis Atwoli praises Uhuru
Oguna added that the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) was working to provide some of the displaced individuals with face masks and temporary accommodation provisions.
After the demolitions, the government came under fire from many quarters including the UN which condemned the evictions during the Covid-19 crisis;
“Not only does destroying the homes of thousands of persons without any alternative accommodation constitute a grave violation of their right to housing, but doing so in the current context of a pandemic violates multiple human rights norms and exacerbates its potential impact on the rights to health and life for thousands of Kenyans,” the UN officials said in May.