BY NAIROBI COUNTY GPS
The stage is now set for the construction of 200,000 affordable houses in Nairobi City County in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda.
Phase one of the project will kick off in Pangani estate where 1,500 affordable housing units will be constructed in the next 10 months.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has already struck a deal with tenants of Nairobi County Government houses in Pangani where 1,500 affordable housing units will be constructed.
Sonko has already issued rent cheques and lease agreements to each of the tenants who are now ready to relocate to locations of their choice for a period of 10 months as the County Government completes the construction of the 1,500 new affordable houses in Pangani estate.
Each of the tenant will get a cheque of Sh600,000 to pay for rent in their temporary residence for a period of less than 12 months.
The current tenants will all be allocated a new house, each at a cost of Sh3 million to be repaid over a 30-year period with a negotiated monthly rent of Sh8, 000.
“We are now set for the groundbreaking ceremony of the affordable houses project. My administration will not postpone this exercise anymore since we have ironed out all the contentious issues that were facing both parties in the agreement,” said Sonko.
He was addressing tenants from Pangani estate at City Hall.
The Governor has also promised the Pangani tenants that they will not be frustrated since his Administration will ensure those affected by the project are the first beneficiaries in the purchase of the houses.
Sonko added that he is saddened to see people like veteran freedom fighter Gitu wa Kahengeri struggling to pay rent for County houses.
“I want the old man to own his own house. This is the promise I’m giving him, since he’s like my grandfather, under my leadership you won’t be frustrated. I know you all voted for me with high hopes of changes in your life. I will ensure that this project is completed on time so that you are all allocated a house as written in the tenant purchase agreement,” Sonko said.
The meeting was also attended by acting Nairobi City County Assembly speaker Chege Mwaura who is also the MCA for Ngara Ward.
“We are happy the Governor is listening to your concerns and I’m sure the project will be implemented to completion. This is a golden opportunity for all of us to own affordable houses in Nairobi,” Mwaura said.
Mau Mau freedom fighter Gitu Wa Kahengeri, who also attended the meeting at City Hall, is among the Pangani tenants lined up to benefit from the housing project.
“We cannot oppose development and some of us who are Mau Mau veterans are happy now that we will be able to own houses in Nairobi. I have been a tenant at the county houses since 1970 and I’m appealing to Sonko to ensure we the current tenants are given first priority when the houses are being allocated,” he said.
Lawyer Wangong’u Ndichu who is representing the Pangani tenants also expressed his optimism that the project will succeed.
“We are so far happy with the deal and the issuance of tenant purchase agreement documents for my clients. But we are appealing to the county to consider the tenants while allocating the houses,” said Lawyer Ndichu.
The National Government targets to build 500,000 new houses across Kenya by 2022, while the Nairobi City County Government plans to construct 200,000 housing units in Nairobi.
The affordable housing programme is part of the government’s efforts to reduce the housing backlog that currently stands at 2 million units with an annual deficit of 200,000 units.