Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has said that the implementation of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s affordable housing project under the Big Four agenda is unstoppable.
Sonko has hit out at those opposed to the project saying his administration is determined to fully implement it.
The project aims at providing 200,000 housing units in Nairobi.
“Let’s not politicize development projects in Nairobi County,” he said.
Sonko also responded to claims that the law was not followed while evicting residents of Pangani estate where the affordable houses are to be constructed.
“We followed the law,” he said.
He said the Pangani tenants were consulted before the project was initiated.
They signed tenant purchase documents to ensure they get back their houses as owners and not tenants- Sonko explained.
He spoke on Tuesday after his administration officially kicked off execution of Phase 1 of the project in Pangani estate.
Some 1,580 units will be constructed.
The project is expected to be completed by next year.
“All the 48 tenants affected by the project have been compensated Sh600, 000 to pay for rent in their temporary residence for a period of less than 12 months,” Sonko said.
The affected tenants will be allocated a new house each to be repaid over a period of 30 years.
The Nairobi City County Government has already issued lease agreements to the affected Pangani estate tenants who have all been allocated houses in the Pangani affordable housing project.
Sonko has expressed optimism that Phase One of the project will succeed to pave way for Phase Two.
Pangani Estate is among seven Nairobi estates that are earmarked for redevelopment under Sonko’s administration.
The others are Ngong Road Phases One and Two, Uhuru Estate, New Ngara, Old Ngara, Suna Road and Jeevanjee/ Bachelors estate.
Thereafter, Phase Two will follow soon and some of the estates targeted include, Bahati, Jericho, Gorofani, Bondeni, Shauri Moyo, Lumumba, Maringo and Ziwani estates.
President Kenyatta is targeting to build 500,000 affordable houses across the country.
Early this year, Sonko waived building approval fees in Nairobi in order to boost affordable housing projects by the private sector.
“As evidence of our commitment to support affordable housing, my cabinet has approved a proposal that building approval fees for all affordable housing projects be waived. This covers projects being undertaken by the private sector by the county government and the national government,” Sonko said in March.