State rolls out Sh7 billion housing project in Mombasa

A section of the Sh 6 billion Buxton Point estate during the hand over of the completed houses to their owners at Buxton in Mombasa County on Saturday 16th September 2023. The construction of the second phase has already kicked off. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

The government has embarked on one of its affordable housing projects in Mombasa county where about 2,000 units will be built. 

State officials yesterday announced the roll-out of the Sh7 billion Nyali Affordable Housing project at VOK area in Nyali subcounty will comprise a number of social amenities.

It will include the construction of 1,976 affordable housing units, a primary and secondary schools that will cost Sh5.9 billion as well as a Sh1.1 billion market.

The project started in earnest on a 23-acre land belonging to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation near Bombolulu along the Mombasa-Malindi highway and will be completed in the next three years.

Consortium lead architect Mohamed Munyanya said the project will comprise 700 units for social housing which reserved for low income earners, 700 for the middle class and the remaining units for high income market.

According to Munyanya, the market will have 1,000 stalls and will transform the area into a modern commercial centre.

“This is going to be a mini city where the affordable housing project will have a commercial centre, a municipal market, a primary school, a secondary school and an early childhood Development Centre (ECDE). The community here has embraced the project,” he stated.

Munyanya who is a representative of the AIA Architects Limited said contractors for the housing units and the market are already on site.

Mombasa county director of Housing Mr Rodgers Wakhungu said the county has 16 affordable housing sites under the national government and county government.

Wakhungu explained that Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir and KBC officials have resolved their differences over the 23 acres that had been at the centre of a long-standing dispute over land rates paving way for the project.

“The authorities have had meetings and have since resolved the past differences. The governor has given his blessings to the housing project,” Wakkungu stated.

He noted that the county authorities target the construction of 50,000 affordable housing units. He said construction of the houses was ongoing at Buxton and Changamwe sites.

He said the development of Hobble Road Estate on Mombasa island was at the tendering stage. Wakhungu said the government will build 1500 units at Hobble in Buxton, Mvita subcounty.

Nyali deputy county commissioner Mr Timothy Cherop said local community at VOK area has been sensitized on the project that will offer employment and business opportunities to them.

“We have also beefed up security in this area. Everything is set for the project,” he said.

So far, more than 500 housing units have been completed at the Buxton affordable housing site.

The Buxton project is being developed on a 12.5 acre plot by Buxton Point Apartment at a cost of Sh6 billion. It comprises a total of 1800 houses.