Nairobi Resident Appeals To Sakaja, Police, Exposes 2 In Illegal Eviction Attempts
Neighbours who witnessed the incident shared photos showing that the hinges of the main door were tampered with.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
A resident of Buruburu estate in Nairobi is calling for the intervention of the Nairobi County Government as well as the National Police Service (NPS) and the national government, having reported multiple attempts to grab a public house despite being assured that no eviction process had been undertaken.
The resident residing in Buruburu Flats – House BBF 215, in a statement shared with Viral Tea, decried that two individuals had stormed the residence while away at work and vandalised both the front and internal doors.
Neighbours who witnessed the incident shared photos showing that the hinges of the main door were tampered with.
One of the individuals who attempted to break into the house had claimed that the house had been “reallocated” to him by Lydia Mathia, the Chief Officer of Housing at Nairobi City County (NCC), and the Director of Housing and Urban Renewal.
Collage of a door's hinges tampered with during a house break-in at Buruburu Estate, Nairobi. /VIRAL TEA KE
"Worse still, they returned again on 11th and 12th June, ramping up intimidation and threats, despite us being law-abiding tenants. We now live in fear, with our rights under attack," the resident cried out, expressing fear for the safety of his family.
The resident notes that the county headquarters had confirmed that no eviction or reallocation process has been undertaken.
In a bizarre twist, the resident claimed that the alleged allocation letter was backdated and issued before any arrears demand or formal process was done, meaning that procedural justice was ignored.
The letter seen by Viral Tea is dated May 12, 2025. It claimed that the house was repossessed for non-payment of rent arrears totalling Ksh305,800 as of April 2025.
"This is not just an illegal break-in. It’s not just an abuse of authority. This is targeted harassment and a coordinated plan to grab a public house," the resident adds.
Echoing the stance taken by President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja that no Kenyan family should be displaced unfairly, the resident asserted that forced evictions without due process are unconstitutional, unlawful, and unacceptable, and urged the duo to stand with the Buruburu residents and intervene directly.
"We have reported the matter, obtained an OB from the police, and compiled photographic evidence of the destruction," adds the statement. "But every passing hour puts our family at greater risk."
On Sunday, June 8, President Ruto urged Governor Sakaja to hold off on evicting tenants from city estates who have fallen behind on rent, following the county’s recent plans to launch a crackdown on defaulters.
While speaking at a Sunday service at the Church of Christ in Africa in Makadara, Nairobi, President Ruto urged Governor Sakaja to focus county efforts on negotiating with rent defaulters instead of evicting them. He said the directive aligns with the national government's broader goal of providing affordable housing, especially for Nairobi residents, as a way to tackle informal settlements.
Ruto also criticised the defaulters for not paying the required county rates but emphasised the need for dialogue to resolve the impasse.
"But let me ask you. Why would you be staying in a house and for the entire 15 years, fail to even remit a shilling to the owner? Is that even in order? I propose that you look for a viable option of instalment payments until completion," Ruto stated.
"So, Governor, I want to ask you to be assertive but engage the leaders. We are not saying that people should be evicted, but rather be engaged on how to pay in instalments."
The Nairobi County Government had launched a major crackdown to recover rent arrears from tenants living in county-owned housing, some of whom have reportedly gone years without making any payments.
