- Mombasa County suspends Buxton Point housing works over alleged contractual breaches.
- Dispute centres on the county’s 10 per cent share of housing units and commercial spaces.
- Former residents renew calls for promised houses and outstanding relocation payments.
Works on the Buxton Point Affordable Housing Project in Mombasa have been suspended amid a dispute between the county, the developer and former residents.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands and Housing Mohammed Hussein announced the immediate stoppage. He cited the developer’s alleged failure to honour key commitments in the agreement governing the multi-billion-shilling project.
Hussein said construction would remain on hold until the outstanding obligations were addressed and an agreement reached between the county and the national government. He maintained that the county was acting to protect its contractual interests and ensure that promises made to affected families were fulfilled.
At the heart of the disagreement is the county government’s 10 per cent entitlement to housing units and commercial spaces under the joint venture agreement. The county says it is yet to receive its allocated share, estimated at about 180 units.
Meanwhile, the dispute has reignited concerns among former Buxton Estate residents. They say they have waited for years to be resettled after their homes were demolished to facilitate the project. Some of the affected families claim they were promised alternative housing and financial assistance to cater for their relocation, but say the arrangements have not been fully honoured.
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One former resident said affected households had initially been promised Ksh 300,000 in relocation assistance but received only Ksh 240,000, leaving them with an outstanding balance. Another displaced resident maintained that the families were not seeking free accommodation. They simply wanted the houses they had been promised, and were willing to pay for the units like other Kenyans.
Buxton Point is being undertaken through a partnership between the Mombasa County Government and private investors led by businessman Suleiman Shahbal through GulfCap Africa Investment Partners. It was designed to transform the former Buxton Estate into a modern residential neighbourhood, with about 1,800 affordable housing units alongside supporting social and commercial facilities.
Overall, the county’s latest move places the spotlight on the implementation of public-private partnership agreements. It also highlights the need to safeguard the interests of communities affected by large-scale urban redevelopment projects.
For the former residents, however, the dispute goes beyond contractual disagreements. Many are still waiting to see the promises made during the demolition of their homes translate into actual housing.
The suspension now leaves the project’s future hanging in the balance, as pressure mounts on the parties to resolve their differences and address the concerns of the affected families.
By Lizzy Aluga
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