Nairobi slum dwellers set to benefit from new government housing projects

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenyans residing on the Mukuru Kwa Reuben slum on the outskirt of the Capital-Nairobi are set to benefit from a new housing project launched by President William Ruto.

During the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday afternoon, the head of state stated that its time to ensure Kenyans despite their life status has access to decent and affordable homes.

The project has a unique background as the 55 acres of land had been grabbed by land cartels before being recovered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The land belonged to the country’s Meteorological Department but was grabbed 24 years ago. Once it was recovered by the state, it was turned into useful public land, where 15,000 affordable housing units will be set up for the poor Kenyans to occupy.

Last year, the Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Planning Charles Hinga disclosed that the government had already moved to the site and construction work had started.

The ethics agency recovered the land that is worth more than Sh5 billion in August 2020. A court ruling by Justice Elijah Obaga of the Environment and Lands Court ordered the cancellation of title deeds issued to five companies for the land and ordered the firms barred from trespassing.

Kenya’s second president the late Daniel Moi issued a directive in 1999 for all government agencies to process title deeds for the land they owned set in motion a grabbing spree, and Met was one of the victims.

According to PS Hinga, the plan is to build between 12,000 to 15,000 housing units on these sites and to have area residents become homeowners.
The first five blocks are already under construction as well as works on sewers, drainage, and roads.

Once complete, the site will have a fire station, shopping center, and kindergarten.

The project will provide direct and indirect employment to more than 100,000 youth and support suppliers of numerous locally sourced inputs.
This project was part of former President Uhuru Kenyatta's affordable housing program under the Big Four agenda.

Mukuru slums with almost half a million people are divided into five areas: Kwa Njenga, Kwa Reuben, Fuata Nyayo, Pipeline, and Viwandani.

GAROWE ONLINE