Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has defended the ongoing demolitions in Makongeni Estate, saying the redevelopment is part of a long-planned regeneration of Nairobi’s Eastlands region and not an eviction campaign as some residents claim.
Appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Hinga explained that the project is anchored in a 2019 Eastlands Urban Renewal Master Plan, which found that 18 ageing government estates occupy more than 3,100 acres of land but house only 17,000 households. He said this imbalance makes it impossible for the city to respond to growing population pressures without redeveloping old settlements.
Makongeni—one of the oldest estates built for railway workers in the early 1900s—sits on 139 acres and has long struggled with crumbling infrastructure, dilapidated houses and outdated sanitation systems. The estate is owned by the Kenya Railway Pension Fund, which Hinga described as asset-rich but cash-poor, unable for years to maintain the houses or manage the land effectively.
He said many of the homes have asbestos roofing, failing sewer lines and rents as low as KSh 1,000, making it impossible for the pension fund to sustain operations. Under the Affordable Housing Programme, the government stepped in to resolve financial backlogs owed to pensioners and chart a path for redevelopment.
While the demolitions have triggered frustration, Hinga insisted that affected households were engaged early and offered compensation to move out temporarily. He noted that households were initially offered KSh 30,000, but this amount was increased after local leaders argued that tenants paying as little as KSh 1,300 would struggle to secure new rental housing in Nairobi.
According to the PS, 3,300 out of 3,600 registered tenants have already been compensated, with the remaining cases involving Safaricom verification issues or unresolved subtenant claims. Each compensated household received a card guaranteeing priority placement once new homes are built. The redevelopment is expected to deliver close to ten times the current number of housing units through densification.
Hinga also said institutions within Makongeni, including several churches and a nearby school, have been brought into the structured engagement process. In addition to rental compensation, households were given KSh 150,000 to help with relocation costs such as school transfers and settling into new homes.
He stressed that the government has already awarded contracts for the first two of five construction phases. Makongeni, he said, is only the beginning, with similar projects lined up in Starehe, Shauri Moyo, Jogoo Road and other aging estates.
Makongeni Residents Still Fear Permanent Displacement
Despite the assurances, sections of the public remain skeptical. Many residents fear they may not afford the new units once they are completed, even if granted priority. The government has not yet clarified the exact pricing of the return units, only noting that financing options under the Affordable Housing Programme will be available.
Some community members also argue that compensation—even after being revised—has not matched the current cost of living in Nairobi, making relocation difficult. Others feel that subtenant issues have not been fully addressed, with many claiming they have nowhere to go and no compensation because they were not directly registered with the landowner.
Civil society groups have raised further questions about transparency in the verification process and the duration residents will be expected to remain out of the estate before returning.
Infrastructure Questions Remain
Urban planners say that while renewal is necessary, Nairobi must tackle underlying infrastructure shortages for redevelopment to be meaningful. Hinga acknowledged these concerns, pointing to ongoing construction of two major sewer trunk lines along the Nairobi River and two treatment plants meant to serve the city for the next four decades. Water scarcity also remains a challenge, though the PS said additional programs are underway to increase supply and expand last-mile connections.
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To soften the transition, the government has offered residents first priority in job opportunities created by the redevelopment contracts. Each household can nominate a member to be considered for employment during construction.
As demolition works continue, Makongeni stands at a turning point. For government officials, the estate represents the first step in a much broader regeneration plan for Eastlands. For residents, however, it is a moment filled with both hope and anxiety—hope for better housing and services, and anxiety about whether promises of return and affordability will hold true.
Whether the redevelopment ultimately delivers a modern, green, and inclusive community—as envisioned—will depend on how well the government navigates the concerns now coming to the surface.
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