52 Government houses are set for demolition

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Housing

At least 500 families of civil servants living in government quarters in Mombasa have been ordered to vacate the houses, to pave way for the Affordable Housing project.

The families on Hobley Road Estate in Mvita Sub-county have been ordered to vacate the premises by October 1, 2024 for the housing project, which is part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. The affected families who occupy government owned buildings are now appealing to the concerned authorities, to intervene swiftly to prevent their possible forceful eviction.

The notice to vacate the houses built during the colonial times was issued on March 3, 2024 by the Mombasa County Affordable Housing Committee through the County’s Director of Housing Rogers Wakhungu.

The Housing Committee directed that the Hobley Estate situated in a prime area within Mombasa town be redeveloped as part of the Affordable Housing programme further, noting that the current occupants would get priority to purchase or rent the new units.

Part of the notice from the Housing Committee chaired by the County Commissioner, Mohamed N. Hassan reads “after deliberations the Committee directed that Hobley Road Government Estate, be redeveloped as part of the Affordable Housing Programme in Mombasa County.

Those who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, say the vacate notice has caused them sleepless nights. “We thank and support the government for this noble initiative of Affordable Housing programme, but the same should not be done to the detriment of people in government employment,” they said.

They say the move may cause families of people in the employment of the government to be thrown out into the streets from the 52 Hobley Housing Units. The residents whose fate hangs in the balance contend that the decision to terminate their tenancies through the vacate notice was done arbitrarily as the occupants were not consulted beforehand through public participation process.

Some of the residents said most of the houses have not been maintained by the government for years and so the occupants have been the ones maintaining them.  “When I was allocated the House, it was in a deplorable condition and therefore spent at least Sh400, 000 loans to make it habitable,” said one of the tenants.

They are requesting compensation and an extension of tenancy at least up to May 1, 2025 due to the current economic hardship which they contend has also seen an increase in the property market in the coastal city.

“We have tried to engage the Housing Department and even wrote a letter requesting for compensation and extension, but so far no communication from the Committee,” added the tenant who said some of the occupants are of Director Level in their respective Ministries.

The distraught tenants have also noted that they have children in school sitting for examinations in October and the relocation will disrupt their school calendar. “It’s also unfair that we are told to vacate the houses, which we have been maintaining with our meager earnings without any form of compensation to facilitate us finding alternate accommodation” they noted.

They said residents of a nearby Buxton Point were each compensated with Sh240, 000, when a similar project took place three years ago. They also gave examples of Mzizima, Likoni and Changamwe, where occupants of either National or County government houses, were compensated to pave the way for construction of affordable houses.

Commenting on the issue, Land Activist, Evans Momanyi, said the Constitution provides for public participation and that the vacate notice was a contravention of fundamental rights and freedoms. “It is distressing for the tenants to look for alternative accommodation in these tough economic times without any form of compensation. Nobody has money and the majority of the occupants might end up homeless,” said Momanyi.

He said the issue of compensation is very critical to cushion the tenants to seek alternative accommodation, saying the government should show compassion to the public servants.