Trouble is looming in the sprawling Kawangware slums as tension between landlords and tenants heighten.
Life is becoming harder for slum dwellers as covid 19 pangs continue to strike. In Kawangware area of Dagoretti North, Landlords are making life hell for their tenants.
On Sunday, a tenant we identified as Patric Sabula encountered an experience he wish to forget.
Sabula was relaxing in his house when hired agents by his landlord came and ordered him out of the house and threw all his belongings in the rain as he watched helplessly.
Once the agents had finished throwing out his households, they left him outside not nowing what to do with his family. Sabula decided to return part of his stuff inside rather than let rain fall on his furniture.
Little did he know that the agents were hiding around. The muscle men returned and an urgument started and before long policemen arrived at the landlord’s request and carried him to Riruta police station.
At this juncture a youth leader in the area mobilised fellow youth and stormed the police station demanding the release of the ufortunate tenant. It is then that Shilibwa who unsuccessfully contested the Dagoretti North seat in 2017 came onboard and sorted the rent arreas allowing the tenant to be released.
“I dont have words to thank Hon Shilibwa, things have been tough and even raising the 3000ksh is a tough order leave a long food. I work as a mechanic but since many people dont drive around there is no work in our garage” Sabula said.
Cases of landlords throwing tenants out have been on the rise in Dagoretti North.
One Oscar Binyenya a youth in the area who enjoys a good rapport with both the youth and the police in the area stepped up to avert a looming showdown as irate youth bayed for the landllrd’s blood.
“We are currently on lock down, we did not create corona virus. It is not that we dont want to pay but we have no money. How do you get paid for staying at home?” quiped one of the the youth.
“It is sad to see families being thrown out in the cold, as leaders we are helping where we can but we plead with landlords to bear with tenants during this hard economic times” Shilibwa said.
Mr Shilibwa is still in the race for Dagoretti North Mp seat in 2022. The Anc party diehard has donated sanitizers, Hand washing tanks and food to vulnerable members of Dagoretti North community. Many pundits believe he will give Simba Arati a run for his money.
