Eviction looms in Nairobi’s Eastlands to pave way for affordable housing project
Nairobi residents occupying government houses in Eastlands, a middle-lower income residential area, have been asked to vacate their premises on or before April 30, 2024.
The move comes even as the government insisted that the project of constructing affordable houses for citizens in Nairobi will go on.
This is according to Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, who said the targeted areas are government estates, in Jogoo Road Phase 1 & 2, Jamaa, Mbotela, Ahero, Mawenzi Gardens, and South B government estates.
In a statement, the PS said several estates have been identified for redevelopment, which is in line with the Kenya Kwanza government’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP), which is part of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
This move, the senior government official stressed, will increase rental stock, avail houses for sale to citizens at affordable rates, and create job opportunities for the youth.
He informed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to ensure the process of evicting the tenants to pave the way for the program begins immediately.
“In line with this, several Government Estates in the Eastlands area have been identified and earmarked for redevelopment. These include Jogoo Road Phase I & II, Jamaa, Mbotela, Ahero, Mawenzi Gardens.
Also, the PS said that the tenants should prepare and surrender the houses that they do occupy to the Director of Estate Management in vacant possession, which should happen after they have cleared all the outstanding rent arrears, utility bills, and service charges.
“Please note that tenants vacated from these estates will be accorded priority to purchase or rent a house once the redevelopment is complete.”
During the campaigns, President William Ruto said that by the end of his tenure, there will be no slum left standing in Nairobi County.
He said that his administration will construct affordable houses for the common Kenyans who are unable to raise money to build such houses.
Similar projects are ongoing in Kibra constituency, and other parts of the country as well.
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