Residents clash with police over demolition of houses in Mukuru

Running battles between resident of Mukuru kwa Njenga and Police erupted this morning following demolition of structures to pave the way for the expansion of Catherine Ndereba Road. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja found himself at the center of the unrest after arriving at the scene to assess the situation, as police engaged residents who were protesting the exercise. The demolition, which had begun early in the morning, was temporarily suspended after Governor Sakaja ordered an immediate halt to the operation. This is not the first time such tensions have been witnessed in the area. On several occasions, there have been attempts to clear structures encroaching on road reserves, with leaders repeatedly calling for due process to be followed to ensure affected residents are protected.