PS Hinga Defends Makongeni Demolitions, Says Tenants Received Ksh150,000 Compensation

By : Mweru Mbugua

Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has defended the ongoing demolition of housing units in Makongeni Estate, saying the exercise is part of the Nairobi Eastlands regeneration programme and that most affected tenants have already been compensated

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, PS Hinga said tenants were each paid Ksh150,000  an amount he described as equivalent to nine years’ worth of rent

He noted that Eastlands, which covers approximately 3,100 acres, was originally planned to accommodate 17,000 households, a density he said is no longer sustainable given the city’s growing population

Out of the 3,600 tenants identified for relocation, Hinga said 3,300 have already received payment through M-Pesa, while the remaining cases are held up due to verification challenges, including mismatched identification details

“Tenants in Makongeni were paid, but others who have sublet their houses did not inform their subtenants. Legally, we have no obligation to subtenants, but we have agreed they too will be paid the Ksh150,000,” he said

Hinga added that the government initially offered Ksh30,000, but after negotiations with residents, the figure was increased to Ksh150,000. All 3,600 tenants, he said, signed consent forms agreeing to the terms

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His remarks follow complaints from some Makongeni residents who said the demolitions had disrupted their lives, noting they had lived in the area for decades and were struggling with the cost of starting afresh elsewhere

Despite these concerns, the government insists that residents will have first priority to purchase new units under the Affordable Housing scheme once the redevelopment is complete