Senators want Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to stop the construction of his pet project – Urban Regeneration- until all the stakeholders are involved.

This is after it emerged that residents of Jericho Estate rejected the use of part of the land to construct Houses under the Urban Renewable project.

The Nairobi City County entered into contractual agreements with private developers to construct thousands of housing units, which once completed will be given to the residents who have stayed in those estates for many years while others will be rented and others sold.

The estates earmarked for Urban Regeneration include Pangani, Jeevanjee, Bahati, Maringo, Bondeni, Woodley and Ziwani estates.

Under the urban renewal projects, the county government gives the land to the private developer who funds the construction of the housing units, with varying percentages for the two parties.

Appearing before the Senate Roads, Transport and Housing Committee chaired by Migori lawmaker Eddy Oketch, Governor Sakaja defended the project saying that although public participation has been conducted in all the areas, he will personally meet the Jericho residents on the benefits of the project.

Inadequate engagement

“In all areas, we conducted public participation and explained the need to expand housing. In Woodley, for example, we compensated residents with Sh900,000 each to relocate temporarily and return once the new houses are ready. I will personally conduct public participation with the residents of Jericho,” said Sakaja.

This is after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna took the governor to task on why his administration had already signed the contracts yet public participation had not been concluded, especially in Jericho.

According to Sifuna, Jericho residents rejected the move since they did not understand how they were going to benefit from the project and that the county government had not conducted adequate public engagement.

“In your report that you have submitted, the residents of Jericho rejected this project and you are yet to agree with them. Why can’t you stop the construction until you conduct a proper public participation?” posed Sifuna.

In his response, the Nairobi County boss charged that everyone will be carried along in the implementation of the project and emphasised that the urban regeneration and renewal programme is driven by the need to modernise housing and accommodate the city’s rapidly growing population.