SHANTYTOWN: WOMAN WORKING ON TEMPORARY DWELLING: CHILD SLEEPING AMONGST DEBRIS: CHILD SITTING IN BASIN: FAMILIES SEATED OUTSIDE DWELLINGS.




Initials JH/V/MR/BJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE MORE THAN 2,000 FAMILIES WHO LIVED IN THE NAIROBI SHANTYTOWN OF KABURINI ARE REMAINING ON THE SITE IN THE WAKE OF THE BURNING OF THEIR HOMES BY THE NAIROBI CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 19. DESPITE TWO DAYS OF RAINS, SOME OF THE SHANTYTOWN DWELLERS WERE ON SUNDAY (25 JANUARY) TRYING TO BUILD NEW HUTS.

THE HOMES HAD BEEN BURNED IN A CAMPAIGN BY THE COUNCIL TO CLEAR THE CITY OF SHANTIES AND ILLEGAL DWELLINGS FOR HEALTH REASONS. KABURINI WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND, MAKING IT'S DWELLERS HOMELESS.

A STORM OVER THE COUNCIL'S ACT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE THE MOVE AND THE MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DR. JULIUS KIANO, HAS DESCRIBED THE BURNING OF THE HOMES AS INHUMAN AND CALLED FOR A HALT UNTIL ALTERNATE ACCOMMODATION WAS AVAILABLE.

BUT THE MAYOR OF NAIROBI, COUNCILLOR ISAAC LUGONZO, HAS REPLIED THAT THE CLEAN-UP MUST GO ON AS THE CITY HAD UP TO 100,000 ILLEGAL SQUATTERS AND A GROWING RAT POPULATION. HOWEVER, THE MAYOR SAID THAT IN FUTURE THE SHANTIES WOULD NOT BE BURNED BUT TAKEN AWAY IN LORRIES.

MEANWHILE, MANY OF THE HOMELESS HAVE BUILT SHELTERS OUT OF THEIR BEDS AND SLEEP UNDER THEM; THE MAJORITY, HOWEVER, REPORTEDLY ARE STILL OUT IN THE OPEN. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN RELIEF HELP FROM RED CROSS AND CITY COUNCIL RELIEF WORKERS. RELIEF WORKERS HAVE BEEN GIVING PRIORITY TO THE AGED, BLIND AND DISABLED.

NAIROBI'S MAYOR HAS SAID THAT REPRESENTATIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ALTERNATIVE HOMES FOR GENUINE NAIROBI RESIDENTS.

MR. G.G. KARIUKI, A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, HAS CALLED UPON PRESIDENT KENYATTA TO INTERVENE TO STOP FURTHER DEMOLITIONS UNTIL ALTERNATIVE HOMES COULD BE FOUND FOR THE SHANTYTOWN RESIDENTS.