The Nairobi government has mounted a strong defence of its urban
renewal plan, saying redeveloping its old estates is the only sustainable way
to deal with the city’s housing crisis.
This follows the unveiling of the Nairobi Urban Renewal Project by
Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The project seeks to replace low-density county estates with
modern high-rise apartments.
It targets 13 estates that were developed decades ago and are
today considered uneconomical, despite sitting on vast tracts of public land.
Housing and urban renewal chief officer Lydia Mathia said the
project is long overdue and would help tackle Nairobi’s growing housing
shortage.
“When these estates were developed, Nairobi had less than one
million people. Today, we have seven million during the day and five million at
night. By 2050, we’ll be at 10 million. Where will all these people live?” she
asked.
The chief officer said estates, which currently host about
10,000 units, were designed in an era when the city was smaller and less
congested.
Many of the houses are single-dwelling units, yet they occupy
prime land that could accommodate thousands of families in modern apartments.
The county has also accused some tenants of failing to honour
their rental obligations for years, denying City Hall crucial revenue to fund
its operations.
While some houses have been passed down to second and
third generations, others have been sublet by tenants for profit.
“We can’t ignore the dignity gap. Slums are growing because our
estates no longer meet Nairobi’s housing demand. This renewal is both a moral
obligation and a sacred calling. Anyone opposing it is standing in the way of
the future,” Mathia said.
The redevelopment programme is already underway in several
estates. In Woodley, for example, 43 old units that once sheltered fewer than
100 residents are being replaced with 1,975 modern apartments.
Each tenant has been compensated with Sh900,000 to support
relocation during the two- to three-year construction period. In addition, they
have been issued with allotment letters guaranteeing them a unit in the new
apartments once construction is complete.
Mathia said the project was designed to protect original tenants
while creating more housing stock for Nairobi’s growing population.
“If your generation has benefited, is it not fair to think of
the future too? From one single house, thousands of families can now live in
dignity,” she said.
But despite these assurances, resistance has emerged. Some
residents and MCAs argue that the renewal plan risks displacing long-time
tenants without providing humane alternatives.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has been one of the most vocal
critics.
Speaking to a local radio station, he said while the county is
justified in demanding rent and redeveloping the estates, the eviction process
should be sensitive to those affected.
“While we agree that many of the city dwellers in county houses
have not been paying rent, what we are demanding is that the eviction should be
done in a humane manner. Someone should not just be removed from houses they
have stayed in for many years without an alternative,” Alai said.
Other MCAs have accused City Hall of failing to adequately
consult residents before implementing the projects. They argue that the process
risks politicisation if people feel neglected or ignored.
Mathia dismissed claims that the plan was rushed, insisting that
Governor Sakaja’s administration was consulting stakeholders and working with
private developers to ensure fairness.
She said the original tenants would be prioritised in the
allocation of the new houses once construction is complete.
“Governor Sakaja’s vision is to dignify as many informal
settlements as possible and give Nairobians a chance to live better. Seeing
these 13 estates reborn will be my greatest joy,” she said.
City Hall maintains that the project is not only about creating
more houses but also about reshaping Nairobi into a modern city.
With the demand for housing expected to rise as the city’s
population expands, officials argue that the renewal plan will prevent the
uncontrolled growth of slums and offer residents affordable and decent living
conditions.
The Nairobi Urban Renewal Project is targeting the redevelopment
of key county estates, including Woodley, Bahati, Maringo, Jericho, Lumumba,
Ziwani, Bondeni, Kariobangi and Embakasi.
Once complete, the initiative is expected to redefine housing in
the city by transforming scarcity into opportunity and replacing dilapidated
estates with vibrant, modern communities.
For now, City Hall is urging Nairobians to look beyond the
short-term pain of relocation and embrace the promise of a future where more
families can live in dignity.
Instant Analysis
Governor Sakaja’s urban renewal plan highlights Nairobi’s
housing dilemma: vast county land locked in old single-dwelling estates versus
a surging population. City Hall argues redevelopment into high-rise apartments
is inevitable, citing fair compensation and guaranteed reallocation for
tenants. Yet resistance persists, with MCAs warning against inhumane evictions
and long-time residents fearing displacement. The clash exposes a deeper
tension, balancing modernisation with social justice. Success could transform
Nairobi’s housing landscape; failure risks reinforcing distrust in City Hall’s
ability to deliver equitable urban renewal.
