The residents of Woodley Estate in Nairobi are mounting an urgent international campaign against what they characterize as illegal and brutal home demolitions.
They are seeking intervention from global humanitarian and judicial institutions. In a comprehensive appeal addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General and other international bodies, the community has detailed the traumatic displacement of approximately 1,200 families following the destruction of 43 homes by the Nairobi city county government. The estate, a valuable property encompassing 100 acres and estimated at $400 million, bears historical significance as an originally British colonial development.
Residents assert they are lawful occupants holding valid tenancy agreements and title deeds issued by the county government. They argue that the nocturnal demolition conducted between November 18 and 19, 2024, flagrantly violated multiple legal protections, including the Local Authority Repossession of Properties Act and the Land Act of 2016, which mandate proper notice and public consultation prior to eviction. The devastating operation has not only displaced families but also resulted in widespread personal property destruction with residents losing critical possessions including documentation, professional equipment, clothing, and jewelry.
Victims emphasize that the nighttime demolition itself breached standard regulations, which specify evictions must occur between 6 am and 6 pm. The community has encountered notable institutional resistance and exhausted domestic legal channels. A legal case attempting to prevent the demolitions was summarily dismissed without substantive hearing, and negotiations with Governor Johnson Sakaja reportedly collapsed. Consequently, the residents have strategically internationalized their struggle, citing violations of international human rights frameworks such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Their comprehensive communication targets multiple international entities, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the African Court of Justice, and diplomatic missions from the United Kingdom and United States. The residents are seeking comprehensive investigation and potential remedial action, further highlighting the estate’s colonial-era origins and demonstrating systematic legal violations. They have also demanded accountability from local governmental authorities, calling on institutions like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Law Society of Kenya to investigate potential legal and procedural misconduct.
