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Sunday December 7, 2008 The Standard

Wanjiru opposes PM over evictions of slum residents

Government plans to spend Sh15 billion on cleaning three city rivers choking with effluent

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

Housing Assistant Minister Marga­retWanjiru has asked the Government not to evict people living on riverbanks in the City.

The minister said she would not support any move to evict families liv­ing less than 30 metres from the rivers targeted for clean-up.

"I will not support Government at­tempts to forcibly evict people from the so-called riparian zones. It must first get alternative places to settle them," said the Starehe MP.

Wanjiru spoke on Friday at a Nai­robi hotel during the launch of a report on tenure options for informal settle­ments. It was published by Sheller Forum, a non-governmental organisa­tion.

The minister was reacting to Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Environ­ment Minister John Michuki's report that the Government would invest huge resources in cleaning up three main rivers in Nairobi,Ngong, Mathare and Nairobi.

Raila said on Thursday the Govern­ment would ensure the polluted rivers are cleaned up at a cost of Sh l5 billion. He added that illegal settlers on par­eels adjacent to the rivers would be forcibly evicted. He instructed the Environment minister to evict families living less than 30 metres from the rivers, as stipulated by the law.

Experts say the clean-up will re­store the lost glory of Nairobi as a great 'green city in the sun'.

Other ministries involved in the exercise are Water and Irrigation De­velopment, Public Health and

Housing Assistant Minister Margaret Wanjlru peruses a report on informal settlements, on Friday.

Sanitation, Nairobi Metropolitan, Forestry and Wildlife, Roads and Public Works, Housing, and Sports and Youth Af­fairs. Also to be involved are Lands, Internal Security, Local Government, and Justice and Constitutional Affairs ministries.

Roads Minister Chris Obure said the decision to clean up Nairobi river was for the good of all residents. He said direct sewerage emissions into the three rivers must be stopped by first asking those residing near the riverbanks to give way. Theminister,however, did not say whether his min­istry would forcibly evict residents.

Wanjiru absolved herself from blame if forceful evictions are carried out. "We are supposed to exercise col­lective responsibility on all Govern­ment activities. But when it comes to forceful evictions count me out. I will not be part of a government that oppresses the poor",said the minister.