Tension has gripped the city of Mombasa following Tuesday’s dramatic standoff between police and a civil society group protesting the government’s handling of affordable housing projects.

The protest, led by Haki Yetu Organisation, gathered tenants from various estates to voice their frustrations about what they described as the government’s “glaring failures” to deliver affordable housing.

The protest began when residents of Khadija, Buxton, Mzizima, Changamwe, Tudor, Malandini, and Likoni gathered at the iconic Elephant Tusks monument on Moi Avenue.

They intended to march to the offices of Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir to present a petition. But the protest was abruptly halted when nine participants were arrested outside the governor’s office at Treasury Square.

The demonstrators, who sought to bring attention to the failed promises of the affordable housing initiative, were surrounded by police from the start.

Prior notice
Authorities warned that protests were not permitted in the city centre without prior notice. Tempers flared when police insisted the protest could only take place in the Tononoka area, not on the busy Moi Avenue.

In response, the protesters attempted to evade police scrutiny by boarding tuktuks and trying to continue their march discreetly. But upon reaching Treasury Square, a police lorry arrived, and nine key protesters were arrested, including Haki Yetu executive director Peter Kiama, legal advocate Munira Ali, and members of the Buxton Welfare Association.

Before the arrests, the demonstrators delivered scathing criticism of the affordable housing programme. They accused the government of perpetuating lies, fraud, and illegalities through public-private partnerships that have left many evicted tenants in limbo.

“Both the previous and current government’s housing initiatives have disregarded the humanity of those most affected, leading to displacement and ongoing uncertainty for many victims of eviction,” said Norbert Abwoga of Buxton estate.

“This neglect not only deepens their suffering but also undermines the principles of social justice these programs claim to uphold.”

The tenants claimed that instead of delivering affordable housing, the government had subjected them to illegal evictions without offering proper relocation plans.

In Buxton alone, over 3,500 residents were displaced, with no tangible benefit from the so-called affordable housing units, three and a half years later.

Stories of uncertainty
Similar stories of uncertainty continue to unfold in Likoni, Tudor, and Khadija estates, where thousands of tenants are at risk of displacement.

Abwoga decried the lack of transparency in determining eligibility for housing units, accusing the government of sidelining vulnerable families. He described the allocation process as opaque that has left many marginalised.

Kiama, of Haki Yetu, did not mince words, calling the affordable housing project a “fraudulent scam” designed to enrich a corrupt network of contractors and government allies.

“This programme does not guarantee homes for the common citizen but for contractors and the government’s friends. It’s time we take a stand,” Kiama asserted.

The group issued a set of demands to the government, invoking Article 43 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to adequate housing. They called for transparency, demanding a public report on the progress of the affordable housing programme, including details on the beneficiaries and the number of units delivered.

Advocate Ali said that in November last year, the Senate made a raft of resolutions, including requiring the Mombasa county government to allocate its share of 184 units of phase one to former tenants of Buxton.

“It was also resolved that the State Department of Housing and the Mombasa county government must join forces and develop a mechanism to ensure the remaining 336 Buxton tenants acquire units in Buxton through a tenant purchase scheme under the National Housing Fund,” Ali said.

“But we have seen that the government … decided in May this year to invest S20 billion in the Treasury bill on the grounds that the affordable housing fund is idle.

“It is discouraging to hear that despite directives from the Senate, the government chose to invest Sh20 billion collected from the housing levy in treasury bills. This decision raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to honouring its obligation to offer housing to affected Kenyans.”