Makongeni eviction victims to get first jobs in new housing projects
By David Nthua, November 26, 2025It is good news to everyone who got evicted to pave the way for the Affordable Housing project in Nairobi’s Makongeni estate.
This is after the Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has stated that Makongeni residents will be given first priority when it comes to jobs in the upcoming projects.
Speaking to a local TV station on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Hinga went on to state that the government has already reached out to affected families and put clear measures in place to ensure they benefit directly from the massive construction works.
“The people who relocated from Makongeni, every household, we have sent out the information, and we want them to nominate a person from each household,” Hinga explained.
He added that the nominated individuals will not just compete like ordinary applicants.
“They are going to get the first right to be employed because these are massive contracts and they are going to require a lot of labour, both skilled and unskilled,” Hinga has said.
He is positioning the project as both a housing and employment lifeline.
However, the PS also addressed concerns over housing allocation, particularly regarding finished units in Mukuru.
“The finished units that we have are in Mukuru, and we already have a problem to eradicate Mukuru slum systematically,” Hinga noted.
Hinga praises Affordable Housing
“We can’t therefore settle Makongeni residents in those houses before solving the problem in Mukuru,” he clarified, stressing that settlement must follow a structured plan to avoid creating new social tensions.
Beyond housing, Hinga highlighted a critical infrastructure challenge facing the capital.
“Nairobi has a big problem with sewer; we have not invested in sewer for a long time,” he stated, describing the city’s ageing system as a ticking time bomb.
To address this, the government has initiated major upgrades.
“On both sides of the Nairobi River, we are building two mega trunk systems that are going to future-proof Nairobi for 40 years,” Hinga revealed.
He added that two new treatment plants are already under construction as part of the ongoing works.
Looking ahead, the PS confirmed that Makongeni remains a key focus area.
“Our plan is to put up 30,000 new housing units in Makongeni,” Hinga announced, signalling a transformative shift for the once densely populated estate.
For former Makongeni residents still grappling with the pain of eviction, the promise of priority jobs and modern housing offers renewed hope.