The Nairobi county government is locked in a bitter standoff with residents following a sweeping crackdown on rent defaulters.

Even as the crackdown continues, affected tenants have raised serious concerns, accusing hired gangs of vandalising homes and looting property under the guise of enforcement.

“This is outright robbery. Gangs are invading our houses, beating and stealing almost everything that we have. We don’t disagree that we have defaulted but evictions must be done in an orderly manner, Governor Johnson Sakaja has gotten it wrong and we are worried that if these residents decide to retaliate, it will be total war in Nairobi,” Caleb Yego, a resident of Kariobangi told People Daily on May 26, 2025.

Barbara Nduku, another resident, complained of harassment, saying that when goons invaded her house last week on Friday, she was just forced to run away and scamper for safety since they were armed with rungus and machetes.

“I have lived in Kariobangi South now for about 30 years, and what we are witnessing is something unprecedented. Something out of this world. Goons are attacking us in the name of enforcing eviction orders as county askaris watch. This should not happen,’ she said.

The county government remains unmoved, however, insisting that all defaulters will be evicted, with no exceptions.

When reached for comment, Chief Officer Housing, Nairobi County, Lydia Mathia dismissed the goon’s “narrative”, instead apportioning blame on the residents who, she says, have been attacking the county enforcement team when approached to leave the houses peacefully.

Legitimate evictions

Woodley and Kariobangi estates are the hardest hit among the 35 county-owned estates.

“We are carrying lawful eviction orders. We have encountered serious attacks, especially in Woodley and Kariokor. Goons have been unleashed towards our team, and we have some of our members who are actually in the hospital, nursing serious injuries,” she said, vowing to continue with the eviction orders until they collect the rent.

Some residents, however, accuse the county of blatantly defying the court orders intended to resolve the questions of rent arrears.

According to Mathia, key estates such as Woodley, Kariokor, Uhuru, Ngara, and Harambee collectively owe the county an estimated Ksh200 million.

“It is disturbing that some tenants are paying as little as Sh11,000 to Sh17,000 for two-bedroom houses with compounds in areas where similar properties fetch over Sh50,000 — yet they still refuse to pay even that reduced amount,” she said.

Mathia confirmed that the county has deployed officers across the affected estates to enforce rent collection and urged residents to understand that the government runs on taxes and service payments.

She emphasised that the county would not back down.

“We shall not allow this to continue,” she warned, “To those who are not paying — we are coming to collect without fail.”