CBRN event in Kenya on Tue 20th January 2026

Tension rose in Mukuru Kwa Njenga on Tuesday as police fired teargas to disperse residents protesting ongoing demolitions in the informal settlement. The demolitions are part of a road expansion project, according to authorities. The Mukuru Community Justice Centre had earlier said the evictions were being carried out “without notice or due process” despite existing court orders protecting residents from forced removal. The group further alleged that police officers fired rubber bullets and used live ammunition to break up demonstrations in the densely populated area. “These are forced evictions being conducted in total disregard of the law. People are being displaced with no warning, and those protesting are allegedly being met with excessive force,” the Centre said in a statement. The organisation also called for an immediate halt to both the demolitions and what it termed police violence. Residents blamed the authorities for ignoring their plight, saying that hundreds of families were at risk of homelessness. The Mukuru Community Justice Centre demanded that the government respect court orders and follow lawful procedures, urging state agencies to ensure safety and dignity for affected families as the dispute continues. Speaking when he visited the area, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja condemned and moved to stop the demolitions, terming the exercise illegal, inhumane, and carried out without due process. He said evictions, where unavoidable, must be conducted with dignity, consultation, and adequate notice. Sakaja said the affected residents should first be engaged and informed about the reasons behind any planned eviction before implementation.