The agony of a double dissaster - Anne's story of anguish under floods and city demolition
Anne Mbuthia standing at the site of her demolished house. Photo by Mischeck Macharia/Oxfam
You hear the truck before it gets to you.
It is loud, it is heavy and it rattles the ground and hence why you hear it before it gets to you.
Beside it, are the recruits from the National youth service (NYS), in front of it armed police officers, as they make their way towards the demolition sites.
It was the morning after the government had made the announcement that any of the informal settlement dwellers, who had built on riparian land should vacate. What they did not know is that the had no time to do so.
“The floods had wreaked havoc in the area and our house was not exempt, but we had managed to salvage what was left and we were trying to rebuild and restart our lives. We had tried to move out of the house, but due to the number of people who had been affected there was high demand for houses on higher ground and less supply. We ended up staying put and rebuilding our house slowly.”
A flooded River Mbagathi in Mukuru slums. It burst its banks and destroyed nearby houses during a recent heavy city downpour. Photo by Micheck Macharia/Oxfam
Anne’s house was right at the edge of the river bank which was full to the brim. So, when the government declared they needed to move, she had nowhere to go. The morning the demolition truck came they were caught by surprise because they thought they would have more time to figure themselves out.
They heard the truck before they saw it.
“The NYS banged at my door and demanded that I leave. Together with my children, I tried to grab as much as I could, and we sought refuge at one of the church compounds that were at this point already full. We could not save so many things by the time the track had lowered our house. My heart broke.”
“The NYS banged at my door and demanded that I leave. Together with my children, I tried to grab as much as I could, and we sought refuge at one of the church compounds that were at this point already full. We could not save so many things by the time the track had lowered our house. My heart broke.”
A contingent of police and National Youth Service officers leading a demolition along the riparian land in Mukuru slums. Photo by Misheck Macharia/Oxfam
At this time, Anne lives within the church compound, her kids have sought refuge at a friend's place. When we find her, she is collecting pieces of iron sheets and the sticks that were left from the destruction. She is hoping to use them for her house when she rebuilds at a different place. Her greatest need however, is to restart her business, where she used to boil cereals and sell. She feels that will enable her to rebuild her life and start again.
Anne Mbuthia picking up remnants of her demolished house in Mukuru slums, Nairobi. Photo by Misheck Macharia/Oxfam
“I am collecting these items because at the moment it is the best I can do, as I plan on where to resettle my family, It is hard to live separately it is even harder to not have a place we can call home, I wish the Government gave us time to resettle, I probably would be doing much better.”
Anne is still living at the church shelter as she tries to collect enough money to enable her to move out.
However, just in the nick of time, Mukuru Youth Initiative (MUYI), an Oxfam local partner organization in Mukuru, suported a flood response program to assist vulnerable households in the area.
Anne is among the enlisted participants of the project who received KES 7,033 which she has used to rebuild her business. She has been able to buy cereals and some avocados which she now sells on the side of the road. Giving her a good source of income.
A payment receipt notification message in Anne's mobile phone. Photo by Misheck Macharia/Oxfam
She also received Non Food Items like, 3 pieces of bar soap, 2 packs of powdered soap, 4 jerry cans of Water, and 2 buckets. Which has eased her life in the shared space. Since she lost everything when, her house was flooded and brought down by the Government evictions.
An assortment of Non-Food Items that Anne received as part of the floods response program. Photo by Misheck Macharia/Oxfam
Anne Mbuthia selling her wares in Mukuru. Photo by Misheck Mcharia/Oxfam
Anne is hopeful and looking forward to what the future holds she believes if she continues to receive the same kind of help it will help her to save the monies she is getting form her business and eventually move her and her family to better living conditions and even grow the business.