Phase two of the affordable housing project has faced delays. Housing PS Charles Hinga attributed legal issues have delayed the construction works.
“We are clearing a few legal hurdles then it will be all systems go,” said PS Charles Hinga.
Starehe tenants have been in court over relocation since 2014 when they sued to stop their evictions. Last year December, the PS had announced at least 21,000 acres had been set aside for the Phase Two of the project in Starehe and Shauri Moyo in Nairobi and Athi River.
Preliminary objections
In Starehe, 359 tenants are supposed to relocate. Kenya Power disconnected electricity in all the houses, raising fears of forced eviction. In 2014, the tenants argued the state had issued eviction notices without giving them an alternative place to settle. Justice John Mativo dismissed the case in 2018. On June 26, 2019, the tenants were again ordered to vacate by July 30. They sued again.
Justice James Makau found the issues raised by the tenants were similar to those raised in their 2014 petition. He allowed preliminary objections by the Attorney General and the City Hall against the petition. The High Court struck out a second petition in August, challenging evictions in Starehe and Shauri Moyo.
On the other hand, owners of the 1,730 units at Park Road, Ngara, are currently moving into the new homes. The Park Road project whose construction started in April 2019 is the first to be completed under the 500,000-unit AHP. PS Hinga explained the owners are moving in as they finalise their finances as most had already paid the required deposits. The completed units were officially handed over to those who qualified through the Boma early this year. The Park Road project is a mixed settlement of civil servants and non-civil servants in a 60-40 split, respectively.
