Humans Vs Railway Company Battle.

Since the sale of Kenya Railways to Rift Valley Railways a few years ago, residents of Kibera who live alongside the railway line are now living in fear of eviction by the company.

Kibera, one of the largest slums in Kenya and Africa in general has experienced overpopulation of the highest rate in the last decade or so, forcing a large number of people to construct shelter on the land owned by the railway company.

Its estimated that over a hundred thousand people live along the railway line, and the company had threatened to evict them last year, only to relent on their threats after pressure from religious groups and non governmental organizations.

Other than living in the area, one of the largest open air markets in the slum, Laini Saba Market is located in the company’s land, and residents claim that any eviction would not only leave them without a place to live, but also jobless.

Education in the area would also be affected since the area hosts more than five informal primary schools. This, according to the residents would be a big blow since the slum boasts of only two government primary schools, making it even impossible for area children to benefit from free primary education.

The cases of violence witnessed during the post election crisis where angry youth demolished a section of the railway line made the railway company to renew their eviction threats to the occupants.

According to the company, no one is supposed to put up any business or residential structures one hundred feet on either side of the railway line.

Other than just reclaiming their land, the company says that construction of shelters and business premises along the railway line had led to loss of lives through rail accidents which occur on a regular basis in the area.