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Reuben Mwambingu @reubenmwambingu

The Sh6 billion Buxton estate regeneration project whose ground breaking was set for this month now faces fresh obstacles after a section of residents vowed to resist the project.

Addressing the press at Buxton estate yesterday, the residents poked holes on the project, which they claim was shrouded in secrecy and questionable integrity.

According to chairman of Buxton residents welfare Chai Mbaru, 90 per cent of them are opposed to the project.

“As residents, we have unanimously agreed to reject the project until we are fully involved … we are asking our colleagues who are collaborating with the developer to join us until we get answers to our concerns,” said Mbaru, adding there is evidence that 12 acres of land within the estate has been grabbed.

The residents have also accused the County Government of attempting to force matters that were never in the plan.

“We know very clearly this is a public land under the custody of the National Land Commission.

We are shocked that the county just wants to evict us and implement a project without involving the commission.

We know very well that they want to take advantage of ignorance of a few people and create more confusion in the name of undertaking the project,” said Said Bibi, a resident.

Stands firm

He added: “We have eyes. We can see for ourselves that more land is on the verge of being grabbed by developers. As residents we have the right to stand firm and protect this place.”

 Another resident, John Tsuma, wondered how the county intends to implement the project amidst multiple cases of land grabbing chocking the estate. 

“When the developer, Mr Suleiman Shahbal came here, he said should residents oppose the project, he would  walk away.

Now, let him see that have rejected it…It is well-known that several parcels of land have been grabbed here. Does he want to be part of the grabbing?” Posed Tsuma. 

In August last year, Governor Hassan Joho insisted the project is unstoppable, warning defiant residents opposed to the plan to brace for a forceful eviction.

The governor vowed to use his authority to ensure the project, which will be funded through private public partnership, succeeds even as a section of tenants read mischief over its rushed implementation.

But during a public participation meeting with the over 500 tenants of the dilapidated estates, Joho said all procedures would be followed before any tenant is moved, including a three-month vacation notice.

Joho said the county has no intention to displace anyone, but its intended mission was to make the residents living in the dilapidated estates a dignified life. The construction work is set to begin in January.

“Nobody will stop me. Let me assure you, it will be built by all means, and those who are not hearing should be prepared to face the wrath,” said Joho while addressing  the tenants during a public participation meeting at the Wild Waters Hotel.

 However, yesterday residents claimed the County Government has started crafting cunning ways of evicting the residents by creating a dumping site within the estate.

“Today we woke up and found hand carts loaded with garbage. We believe they want the bad smell to eject us,”  said Richard Okatia who resides in Government quarters.

 According to Joho, the redevelopment of the estates was the county’s development agenda and cannot be derailed by detractors. The construction is set to start in January 2021 and expected to  end in nine months.

The objective, Joho says, is to make tenants own their houses through a mortgage scheme of Sh240,000 to be agreed upon by the tenants and local banks.

“Those who are opposed to it are haters and against development,” he said. 

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