Nairobi MCAs pass censure motion against County officer over forced evictions in Ngara

A section of Nairobi residents have welcomed the move by Nairobi MCAs to pass a censure motion against Lydia Mathia, the County Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal.

Mathia, who has been spearheading the ongoing evictions of tenants from county houses over rent arrears, was censured for gross misconduct, violations of human rights, and defiance of court orders.

The motion, sponsored by Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, cited Mathia for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of the residents and defying a court order that stayed the evictions until it is heard and determined.

“There is an existence of a conservatory order issued by the Environment and Land Court, petition number ELC E038/2025. Miss Mathia nonetheless proceeded to deploy unknown, unauthorised people—goons—to enforce that eviction. They used force, vandalised private and public property," Mwaura stated.

The assembly also ordered investigations into the destruction and loss of property as a result of what they described as "mafia directives".

The MCAs also want the tenancy of those affected to be reinstated.

“As many of the similar opinion say aye, as many of the contrary opinion say nay… The ayes have it," said Nairobi County Assembly Speaker, Kennedy Ng’ondi.

With the censure motion passed, the Nairobi County Public Service Board is now expected to commence disciplinary action against Mathia.

Residents of Old Ngara, New Ngara, Kariakor, Buruburu, Kariobangi, Woodley and other affected estates have lauded the decision.

They now want the county government to compensate those who lost their properties and shoulder the cost of repairing the destroyed houses.

The ball is now in the court of the Nairobi County Public Service Board, which is supposed to implement the resolution of the House.

The development follows weeks of deadly evictions in Nairobi county houses where residents lost valuable properties to goons allegedly hired by the county government.