Confusion surrounding the Jevanjee Affordable Housing project in Ngara, Nairobi County has intensified after the firm that was hired to implement the project, Jabavu Village Limited, confirmed that it used the land’s title to acquire a loan of Sh1. 9 billion.
The confirmation comes after Nairobi County Assembly formally requested the National Bank of Kenya to suspend all transactions related to the title deed for the Jevanjee housing project.
This decision comes as the Assembly initiated an investigation into claims that the title deed was used as collateral to secure a Sh1.9 billion loan.
“The firm approached a bank for a Sh1.9 billion facility to fund part of the project. Jabavu Village has so far drawn Sh450 million against work certificates issued by the contractor and supporting consultants,” said Abdulkadir A. Hussein, the Managing Director responsible for Jevanjee Gardens Project.
According to Hussein, the project’s progress is currently at 50 per cent with affordable housing units set to be complete by September 2025 and market units by September 2026.
Wrangles over the project emerged a few weeks ago after Built Environment and Urban Planning County Executive Committee Member (CEC) Patrick Mbogo stated categorically that former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko had the Jevanjee estate title deed.
Reacting to the allegations, former Governor Sonko claimed that he was being used as a scapegoat by some leaders in the county government to divert attention from the reality surrounding the title deeds.
Sonko said that during his administration, beneficiaries who were to be affected by the project were given compensation of Sh600,000 each with the assurance that they would be given priority when the houses were completed.
He also accused some officials in Governor Sakaja’s office of being silent on the matter, yet some were present when the title deed was placed under the custody of Stephen Gathuita Mwangi, who was then under Urban Planning Department.
Mwangi is the current CEC for Boroughs, Administration and Personnel docket following recent changes that were made by Governor Sakaja.
“The charge was registered on May 29, 2023, three years after my impeachment. Let them stop misleading Kenyans and do their work,” Sonko charged.
