Members of the National Assembly are accusing the government of discrimination in the demolition of structures built on riparian land.

During a meeting of the Committee on Environment, Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch and his Ruaraka counterpart TJ Kajwang highlighted the suffering residents of informal settlements faced when the government demolished homes near the Nairobi River. They questioned why similar demolitions have not occurred in other areas of Nairobi.

"Where does Nairobi River start and end? Why did the demolition only occur where our constituents live? Are they lesser Kenyans? This government has discriminated against, tormented, and tortured our people simply because they live in informal areas," Oluoch stated.

The MPs also criticized the 30-metre distance guideline for evictions, arguing it would impact large portions of their constituencies. According to CS Aden Duale, evictions will affect all residents living at least 30 meters from the river—a statement the MPs contested.

“If you project a distance of 30 meters, you effectively wipe out entire neighborhoods like Mabatani and Hospital Ward. This gives you a serious responsibility, as children and mothers live there. Every meter means lives are affected,” Kajwang said.

However, CS Duale maintained that there would be no exceptions in the government's efforts to clean up Nairobi River. He promised a cleaner river within 18 months, stating that the demolition of structures near the river is just the beginning.

"I want to assure you, we are not discriminating. Nairobi River spans 47 kilometres, and so far we have covered 27 kilometers. We will not discriminate regardless of your status. If you have built on riparian land, we will demolish those structures as we have done in other riparian areas," he told the committee.

"There are industries and factories on riparian land that have already been demolished. Whether you have built a church or mosque on riparian land, we will demolish them—no matter how big you are, we are coming for you," he added.