Dwellers of a Kigali informal suburb are crying foul after the government delayed paying out compensation for their demolished homes several months after they were expropriated.

The dwellers claim to be stranded after their homes in Kabagari Inyange Village in Kibaza Cell, behind “Ministeri,” the area designated for new headquarters of ministries in the administrative part of Kacyiru, were brought down after the locality was earmarked for expropriation earlier this year. The last batch of residents was scheduled to relocate four months ago.

Dozens of families in the slum were affected by the decision to create space for a bus park and were due to be compensated in April.

READ: Slums to skyscrapers: Where do the expropriated people go?

Signed agreements

“We were informed in April that we are supposed to move,” a concerned resident who only identified himself as Sekamana told Rwanda Today. “In July, the evaluation process was completed and city authorities said we would be compensated immediately.

“We signed agreements but up to now we have not received anything.

“Our businesses have now been closed for more than four months. We cannot reopen or even repair our houses.”

Alice Mukeshimana, who used to run a small but busy bar in the area, lamented: “We agreed to the deal because the government was going to build something to benefit the general public. We were ready to go and begin life elsewhere but the government is not paying us.”

The residents said local leaders had been patrolling the area ever since the expropriation deal was reached to ensure no one reopened their business.

“I had tenants but when we were notified that we would be compensated and moved elsewhere I sent them away yet the rent was my main source of income,” Mr Sekamana, 46, added.

Road and construction works for the bus stop have already left some of the houses halfway demolished yet some of the owners still live in them. Some expressed fears that the rains might lead to disaster.

“Power and water supply have been cut off,” said Mr Sekamana.

The residents said they had been holding unending meetings with city authorities in vain.

“It is difficult for us. Some of us have lived here all our lives. We were ready to co-operate though the decision to move us affected us a lot. I had got a house but it has been given away because I don’t have money,” said Ms Mukeshimana, 51.

The City of Kigali blamed some residents for the delay but said the money would be paid in a week.

“There are about 39 families that are supposed to relocate,” said Bruno Rangira, the director of communications at City Hall. “The money goes through several processes before it is released to ensure that the process is transparent but we know some of the residents had appealed for re-evaluation.”

Mr Rangira urged the residents to be patient, saying the government had the funds to pay them. He said some of the families had disagreed with the figures by government valuers and they were given a chance to seek a second opinion.

“I have been talking to the concerned people; the money will be deposited in their accounts in less than a week,” he added.

By press time, the residents had not received the compensation.

The slum, in the heart of Rwanda’s administrative district, lies next to the many ministries, Office of the President, the US Embassy and the Kigali Public Library.

In July, we reported that 40 families expropriated from Gaculiro were engaged in a compensation battle with Rwanda Social Security Board and the District of Gasabo over valuation of their property.