Residents of Starehe, Ofafa Ziwani, UTI, TUDC villages in Thika Town Constituency, Kiambu County, have protested a move to demolish their houses to facilitate construction of affordable housing project.
The residents, under the umbrella of JAMOFASTAR Welfare Association, expressed sharp opposition to the plan saying national and local governments leadership has not involved them.
Speaking during a consultative meeting at Community Grounds within Starehe Estate, the residents took issue with the Governor Kimani Wamatangi-led administration for sealing off Bustani Grounds with iron sheets where affordable housing units are set for construction.
The residents led by the association chairperson Robert Gakuru said they had entered an agreement with the county government detailing that any move to hive off land for the affordable housing initiative would not be executed without informing them.
"Mimi nauliza serikali, 'nitaenda wapi!'" – Wakazi wa Thika waandamana baada ya serikali kubomoa nyumba zao #TV47News pic.twitter.com/xNKcOyRfuW
— TV47 (@tv47news) March 18, 2024
Contrary to the agreement, the residents decried that the historic grounds was sealed off behind their back. The residents have tasked the leadership of JAMOFASTAR to initiate a meeting with Governor Wamatangi for a win-win situation.
A week ago, the significant Bustani Grounds in Thika was sealed off setting the stage for commencement of another affordable housing project in Thika, a move that has rattled over 8,000 residents who resides within the affected estates.
The houses in the aforementioned estates belong to the County Government of Kiambu and were constructed by Housing Finance Corporation before they were later rented to workers employed by the defunct municipal council of Thika.
The national government has been undertaking massive construction of affordable houses across the country with a view to bridge the huge housing deficit that have seen downtrodden Kenyans live indecent lives.
After launch by President William Ruto on November last year, 975 units of the first lot of affordable housing project has taken off, the project is being implemented on land that previously housed government quarters opposite Thika Municipal Stadium.
