Tension is rising in Mombasa County over the Buxton housing redevelopment project as former residents accuse the county government of stalling progress, breaking promises, and failing to be transparent about the project’s implementation.
The Senate Committee on Roads and Housing on Friday held a public hearing at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa, where they met with former Buxton Estate residents who voiced their growing frustrations.
The Buxton housing project was launched on November 2, 2023, with the aim of providing affordable housing under a rent-to-own model. More than 18 months later, many residents say they have not seen progress or received clear information from county authorities.
“The Senate gave recommendations which were to be implemented within 60 days,” said John Tsuma, a representative of the former residents. “To this day, there has been no official report or sign that the county has acted on them.”
Residents said that while some documents have been shared—such as redevelopment plans, a resettlement action plan, and certain terms described as “unbearable”—the key Joint Venture agreement between the county and the developer remains hidden from the public.
“Our fear is that the project is cloaked in secrecy,” said Mama Amina, a former Buxton Estate resident. “The county appears more concerned with protecting the developer’s interests than those of its own people.”
Concerns have grown even further following reports that the county government has filed an affidavit to reclassify the land under the project as private property. Residents say this could block them from the home ownership opportunities they were promised.
Unlike housing projects in areas such as Mukuru and Starehe in Nairobi, where residents are given clear rent-to-own arrangements and allotment letters, former Buxton tenants say they have not received formal documentation specifying their housing units. There is also no confirmation of the 10 percent share of housing units that the county government was supposed to hold in trust for them.
“The community deserves better. We demand full implementation of the Senate’s recommendations, a fair share in Phase One, and transparency going forward,” the residents said in a joint statement.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, in response, said: “We are committed to give the former residents of Buxton the 184 units allocated to the county government by the developer as soon as the houses are handed over to us.”
Senate Roads and Housing Committee chairman Eddy Oketch reassured the residents that the committee is following up the matter to ensure they get justice and their promised homes in Phase Two of the Buxton Point project, which he said will be completed in two years.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
