I’m writing to express my concern and raise awareness about the forceful evictions that happened on 10 May 2013 to the people living at the City Carton informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. No one should be evicted against their will, no matter their geographical location. Involuntary evictions are illegal under international and regional human rights law. Individuals living in informal settlements have the same rights to basic necessities (shelter, food, sanitation, education,) like most of us.
Having come from Kenya, I am familiar with the despair and frustration of individuals struggling to survive in an environment replete with various social and economic struggles. Because of my passion in improving the lives of women and children, I have been deeply involved in sensitizing the local in this case Minnesota about the challenges and experiences especially of African women living in the US and Africa. I believe women living in these settlement areas that are characterized by lack of socio-economic development and infrastructure, as well as lack of opportunities for employment should not be made to suffer another day.
It is in this light that I ask you to join the call and sign the petition asking Hon Ngilu (Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development- Kenya) to end all forced evictions in Kenya, and implement a law that disallows forced evictions and one that sets guidelines if an eviction is to be carried out.
Signed petitions will be handed to Hon. Ngilu on Decemeber 9,2013.The petition information is on the Amnesty International website: www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/end-forced-evictions.
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