The Social Dimension of Infrastructure: Towards a policy on evictions and resettlement

The Partnership for African Social Governance and Research (PAS GR) under the Utafiti Sera initiative together with Pamoja Trust on The Social Dimension Infrastructure in the context of towards a policy on evictions and resettlement gave insights on the challenges experienced during this process and made recommendations.

Eviction and resettlement processes can often entail inherent risks of impoverishment and hardship for affected communities. When there is little preparation for an eviction and resettlement procedure; when legal safeguards are not applied and evictions are forceful and violent; and when services, infrastructure and livelihood options at resettlement sites are insufficient, poverty is augmented. Years after relocation, most families at resettlement sites live in filth and dire poverty.

Conversely, when authorities, the community, civil society and development partners work together to plan a resettlement process, the negative impacts of resettlement are not only mitigated, but the process can lead to improved and sustainable living conditions.

The Government of Kenya has initiated a number of different strategies through its parliamentary legislation by the promotion of infrastructural development in Kenya.

Towards a policy on evictions and resettlement.