Makongeni Families Face Eviction as Dr. Reuben Kigame Condemns Government Plan

 

 Thousands of residents of Makongeni Estate are facing imminent displacement following a government directive requiring them to vacate their homes to make room for a massive affordable housing project. The plan, which targets nearly 167 acres of the estate, has sparked public outrage and sharp criticism from presidential candidate Dr. Reuben Kigame.

According to the notice delivered to households in the area, each family is expected to sign an agreement accepting KSh 150,000 in compensation and then vacate their homes within five days. With an estimated 8,000 households affected, residents say the directive leaves them with no time to relocate and no guarantee of alternative housing—despite the government having already constructed several affordable housing blocks in the city.

The notice does not offer relocation into these newly built units, a move that has intensified anxiety among the affected families.

Dr. Kigame, who is seeking the presidency, issued a strong condemnation of the government’s approach, calling it “development without dignity.”

“How can a government that claims to champion affordable housing begin by rendering thousands of hardworking Kenyans homeless?” he said.

“KSh 150,000 cannot replace a family home, a community, or decades of belonging. Five days is not relocation—it is an eviction.”

Kigame argued that the government has alternative land in and around Makongeni that could be used to build replacement homes before any relocation process begins. He described the current directive as “unjust, unnecessary, and an assault on the rights of Kenyan citizens.”

Residents of the estate have also voiced their frustration, saying the compensation is inadequate given the cost of living in Nairobi. Many fear they will be pushed into informal settlements or forced to leave the city entirely.

Kigame urged civil society groups, religious leaders, community organizations, and citizens to stand with the affected families.

“I call upon every patriot to resist this injustice peacefully and constitutionally,” he said.

“A just nation develops its people—not at their expense.”