Mombasa to build 3,200 housing units in Likoni

The Mombasa government is planning to build 3,200 housing units in Likoni. 

The Sh8 billion project is being developed under a public-private partnership agreement. It will be the biggest housing project in Mombasa.

The project will cover two estates-Likoni Flats and Likoni Customs-that host about 380 families.

Once complete, the Likoni project will have 600 one-bedroom units, 1,000 two-bedroom units and 1,600 three-bedroom units.

Goldland Rinco Company Limited will construct the new housing units.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be mid this year.

The county government and the developer on Wednesday started a three-day environmental and social impact study and public consultation meeting with tenants and those residing near the project sites.

Project architect Charles Kibet said the architectural drawings have been submitted to the respective county department and approved.

“We are here to get opinions from the tenants and Likoni residents who will be affected by the project and see if we can incorporate their suggestions in the final design,” he said.

Mombasa Lands and Housing chief officer June Mwajuma said the county is providing land for the project and the developer is expected to foot the cost.

Speaking to the media at Mwahima Stadium in Likoni, she said once completed, Likoni residents and tenants will be prioritised.

“The project is on course, we are at the implementation stage,” Mwajuma said.

She said the cost of each unit is yet to be determined and an evaluation will be done to get the market value before coming up with the pricing for each housing unit.

Currently, the monthly rent for the housing unit is between Sh2,800 and Sh4,400 depending on the size of the house.

“The project is in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four agenda on housing, it intends to enable Mombasa residents to become homeowners rather than just being tenants,” she said.

She said each family will get Sh150,000 relocation fee and enjoy Sh200,000 discount once the project is completed. 

Tenants in the two Likoni estates, however, said the Sh150,000 relocation amount was too little.

They called on the county to increase it to at least Sh250,000 because they will be away for two years once the construction begins.

Joyce Lewa, who has lived in Likoni Customs for more than 25 years, said they were still negotiating with the county and the developer and are hoping to reach an agreement.

“The houses have been in bad condition for a while, we have been using our own money to do the renovation. It will be fair if they adjust the amount because it’s not only about moving out, our livelihoods are going to be affected because some of us have established businesses here,” Lewa said.

She said they were not opposing the project, but asked to be given ample time to prepare to leave.

“We have children in school with some expected to sit their national exams and when we move out, they are going to be affected. We will have to start looking for schools to enrol them we move out,” she said.

Philip Mutisya, a resident of Likoni Flats, said some of the residents' names are not appearing as the registered owners of the apartments they were living in. He wants the county to address the matter before they vacate.

“We are concerned because some of us own apartments in these estates, but when you look at the registration particulars, you realise your apartment is registered under a different name,” he said.

The county is also redeveloping several other estates.

They include the Sh6 billion Buxton housing project, which will have 1,900 units, and the Sh5 billion Mzizima housing project that will have 1,780 units.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris