Senators now want Sakaja's Pumwani-California rehabilitation project stopped
The residents of the New Pumwani-California estate had written a petition to the County Government of Nairobi requesting that the ownership of the houses be converted from a Social Housing Units to a Tenant Purchase Scheme.
Senators have now threatened to suspend a multi-billion shilling project to rehabilitate the New Pumwani-California estate and 12 other council estates in Nairobi.
The lawmakers cited controversies surrounding the project saying officials of residents' associations in the respective estates had petitioned the Senate over it.
More To Read
- Los Angeles races to contain devastating wildfires before severe winds return
- Eastleigh's rising rental prices reflect economic boom amid increased cost of living
- Keroe Street manhole worsens already poor road conditions- Eastleigh residents
- New Pumwani Estate embraces upcoming feeder roads upgrade
- House help pleads guilty to stealing Sh1m from her employer in Eastleigh
Roads, Transportation and Housing Committee chair Senator Karungo Thang'wa (Kiambu) said the officials claimed they were being threatened by county government staff.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute likened the programme to the controversial Buxton Housing Project in Mombasa where tenants were short-changed after 90 per cent of the units went to the developer with the county government left with only 10 per cent.
"Let us agree that the project should not continue until we deal with the contentious issues. If not, then the same fate that befell Buxton residents will happen to these people too," Chute said.
"After the experience of Buxton, we have resolved that all contracts between counties and private developers regarding any utilisation of public land should be made public," Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said.
The residents of the New Pumwani-California estate had written a petition to the County Government of Nairobi requesting that the ownership of the houses be converted from a Social Housing Units to a Tenant Purchase Scheme for payment of mortgage for the houses but the petition had not been responded to.
The committee requested a response from the governor, to provide a copy of the agreement between the Israeli Government and the Government of Kenya for the construction of the estates through a Tenant Purchase Scheme.
The governor was expected to provide a copy of the report on the Urban Renewal Plan for Eastlands, a copy of development control guidelines for Eastlands, and the status of the response of the County Government to a Petition by residents of New Pumwani/California estate for conversion of social housing units to a Tenant Purchase Scheme.
In addition, the committee wants Sakaja to provide an explanation of the circumstances under which a contractor was given approval for redevelopment of the New Pumwani-California estate and then demolished Flat C-5 on 27 May 2023.
However, Sakaja failed to honour the sermons by the Senate leading to the governor being slapped with a Sh500,000 fine.
Senator Thang'wa revealed that the governor had been invited to appear before them since November last year but has been requesting postponements ever since.
Top Stories Today
- 800,000 more Kenyans turn to Fuliza in 2024 as economic pressure bites
- State pays Sh70 million to wildlife conflict victims in Laikipia
- Counties, KPLC clash over fibre revenues and unpaid wayleave charges
- Kenya Power adds 134,630 rural users but sees first revenue dip since 2020
- Mandera leaders visit Banisa to de-escalate tension following killing of six family members
- State pours Sh2.8 billion into affordable housing research
- Interior CS Murkomen allays fears of increased Al-Shabaab attacks
- Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine to seek presidency, chides West over rights
- Financing peacebuilding likely to feature in UN's architecture review this year
- Ruku orders probe into NYS procurement process amid allegations of embezzlement of Sh2bn
- Were's murder case: Why LBDA director Ebel Ochieng is seeking magistrate's recusal
- Government leases four state-owned sugar mills to private firms for 30 years
- Bodyguard, driver were in contact with MP Charles Were’s killers- Police
- Politician Philip Aroko detained for seven days in probe into Were's murder
- Rights group seeks to join suit targeting police officers who conceal identity during operations
- Mwilu had no power to appoint bench in Gachagua impeachment case, court rules
- High Court bars police from investigating extra-judicial killings, abductions
- Were murder case: High Court orders Aroko to be produced on Monday
- Parastatals merger: 3,100 jobs at risk as Treasury plans retirement offers
- Ruto moves to end ‘hakuna dawa’ with Sh10bn boost to KEMSA
