Nairobi County Assembly Mediates Affordable Housing Dispute

The Nairobi County Assembly's Urban Planning and Housing Committee, led by Chairman Geoffrey Majiwa, has initiated mediation efforts to resolve a prolonged dispute over delayed Affordable Housing Programme projects. The dispute involves homebuyers, contractors, and county officials. Residents who paid for the housing units have raised concerns over years of delays and a lack of clear communication from the county government regarding when they would finally receive their homes.

The committee has given the parties 14 days to agree on a way forward, with buyers offered the option of receiving their houses or seeking refunds. Majiwa stated that the committee will establish the reasons behind the delays and determine a realistic timeline for completing the projects. The committee's immediate priority is to establish the contractors' capacity and timelines for completing the houses while ensuring that the interests of the buyers are protected.

Contractors attributed the delays to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent rise in construction material prices, factors they said had affected project implementation and completion timelines. Majiwa noted that the conflicting positions had created an impasse, making the committee's mediation necessary to facilitate negotiations and prevent further frustration among residents who had invested their money in the programme.

During the mediation, Majiwa indicated that residents who were no longer willing to wait for the additional construction period requested by contractors should be given an opportunity to recover their money. He stated that if there is no availability of housing units, residents are ready to take their money back. If they don't want to wait for the period the contractors are requesting, the committee will ask the contractors to refund their money.

The committee is expected to conclude its oversight exercise and issue a report within 14 days, outlining its findings and recommendations. Majiwa declined to comment on allegations that title deeds relating to the housing projects had allegedly been used to secure loans, saying the claims required verification before the committee could make any determination.

Majiwa responded to calls for investigative agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to intervene. He maintained that the committee would first exhaust its oversight mandate before deciding whether to involve the agencies. Majiwa stated that the committee's work is to do oversight and that they would involve the agencies when necessary.

The mediation efforts aim to provide a resolution to the dispute and ensure that the interests of all parties involved are protected. The committee's intervention is expected to facilitate negotiations and prevent further frustration among residents who have invested their money in the programme. The outcome of the mediation will be outlined in the committee's report, which will be issued within the 14-day period.

Key points

• The Nairobi County Assembly's Urban Planning and Housing Committee has given parties 14 days to agree on a way forward.
• Contractors attributed delays to COVID-19 pandemic and rise in construction material prices.
• Committee to conclude oversight exercise and issue report within 14 days.