Hussein Khalid appeals to govt as Watamu residents oppose Affordable Housing project
By Faith Lagat, December 21, 2025Human rights activist Hussein Khalid has urged the government to listen to locals, as residents of Watamu in Kilifi County vehemently oppose a proposed affordable housing project slated for the town’s only remaining public park.
The controversy erupted during a public discussion on December 20, 2025, as locals, environmentalists, and investors united against the plan, part of the national Affordable Housing Programme.
Taking to his X on December 21, 2025, Khalid called on the government to prioritise the voices of local communities in development planning.
“The government must listen to its people in planning development projects. When those in government implement projects with personal interests in mind, the result is always disastrous, with no benefits to the local people,” he said, stressing the risks of sidelining public opinion in major projects.
He specifically addressed the proposed affordable housing initiative in Watamu, urging authorities to reconsider its location.
“This affordable housing project in Watamu must be rethought and moved to another site. There cannot be any other way. The locals have said no to the destruction of their only public park,” Khalid added, highlighting the community’s demand to preserve the town’s vital green space.
Environmental and community concerns
At the heart of the opposition is the threat to Watamu Public Park, a vital green space providing shade, parking, and relaxation for residents and tourists. Halima Lali, a local resident, initially supported the housing initiative but reversed her stance upon learning the location.
“Kwa kweli nimefurahi sana kwa serikali kutaka kutujengea sisi watu wa Watamu affordable houses. Lakini hili eneo limejaa miti. Hapa ndio pahali pekee pamebakia Watamu ambako pana miti,” she said.
Lali stressed the park’s multifunctional role: “Hapa ndio pahali wendawazimu wanakuja kupumzika, watu wa taxi wanapark magari zao hapo. So mimi ningeomba serikali, kama mzaliwa wa Watamu, watuachie hili eneo, na bado Watamu tuko na ardhi nyingi. Kama serikali, najua hamuwezi kushindwa kununua ardhi.” She pointed to alternative sites: “Bado Watamu tuko na ardhi nyingi; kama serikali najua hamtashindwa kununua ardhi, maeneo kama vile Jacaranda, Gede, Kanani, Uyombo na Dabase.”
Environmentalist Justin Kitsao criticised the lack of transparency, noting, “Hizo nyumba zitakazo jengwa hapa, hatujaelezwa, haswa environmental impact assessment ya NEMA, haijatuzungumzia jinsi vipi mjengo utakuwa hapa, jinsi waste management itakavyofanywa.”
Investors warn of tourism impact
Long-term investor Steve Curtis, who has run businesses in Watamu for over 35 years, lamented the potential damage to tourism.
“I am an investor in Watamu, and I have been operating my businesses here for the last 35 years. It brings me great sorrow to see what is being planned right in front of the focal point where tourists first arrive in Watamu,” he said.
Curtis warned, “They are expecting a lovely beach holiday, with lovely people, and all they are going to see is a block of ugly-looking flats. What a shame. What an absolute shame. Those trees are a point of natural beauty.”
He cautioned that the project, near the main entry point, would create a negative first impression for visitors.