Landlord Killed During Tenant Riot in Nairobi, East Africa

Business in Kawangware and Satellite estates was yesterday morning brought to a halt as tenants and landlords engaged in battles over rent reductions.

One landlord is feared to have been killed in the skirmishes which hit the sprawling estate as early as 10 am.

Commuters were stranded as matatus and buses plying the area withdrew their services in the morning. They had to walk to as far as Dagoretti Corner to get transport.

Several residents were injured in the day-long battles before police intervened. They were demanding that the rents be reduced by over 80 per cent. However, there was disagreement between the residents as one group accused the other of using wrong channels to address the issue.

Trouble began at 10 a.m. when Kawangware route 46 residents engaged their route 56 neighbours in a bitter argument about rent reduction and resorted to violence before dialogue was fully exploited.

The route 56 group argued that it was unreasonable for their counterparts to demand rent reductions through illegal means.

According to the route 46 residents, their counterparts from route 56 engaged them in battles as they marched to a local primary school where area MP Beth Mugo and Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Francis Sigei were to address them.

Kilimani OCPD, a Mr Mikwa, said there was a 24-hour police patrol in the area.

He said though scores of residents were injured, there were no confirmed deaths. But residents claimed a land lady was killed during the battle.

The recent stand-off between tenants and landlords of Kawangware slums over rent charges started over the weekend. The residents want the rent reduced from Sh1,500 to Sh200 and have vowed not to pay March rent until the government intervenes.