By JOHN MUTUA
The Nairobi County Assembly Planning and Housing Committee endorsed a proposal in March 2019 to demolish bungalows constructed between the 1970s and 1980s, citing severe deterioration from neglect. The initiative seeks to build 100,000 housing units for over 600,000 residents in colonial-era estates.
The plan, detailed in a February 2019 report, targets high- and mid-rise developments in Uhuru, Jeevanjee, Old Ngara, Pangani, and Ngong Road estates. City Hall will implement a 10-year inspection regime requiring renewable occupancy certificates to ensure maintenance standards.
Despite the project's goals, the county faces scrutiny over developer contracts. Ward representatives allege agreements with firms like Green Erderman Property and Technofin Kenya were signed without a formal housing policy, which remains pending. A 2018 report noted only 35,000 new homes were built against an annual demand of 120,000 units.
Contractors have three years to complete affordable housing units priced below market rates. The project aligns with efforts to curb informal settlement growth, though critics question the legality of agreements made before the housing policy's finalization.
