Economy

Court paves way for building 7,000 houses in Starehe

case

The over 330 civil servants moved to court in 2014 and obtained orders blocking the Ministry of Lands and Housing from ejecting them from their houses in Starehe and Shauri Moyo estates to pave way for the construction of the new housing units. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The government can now build over 7,000 housing units in Starehe after the High Court dismissed a case filed by civil servants who were apprehensive of missing out on the houses once complete.

The over 330 civil servants moved to court in 2014 and obtained orders blocking the Ministry of Lands and Housing from ejecting them from their houses in Starehe and Shauri Moyo estates to pave way for the construction of the new housing units. But Monday, Justice John Mativo lifted the orders and dismissed the case saying that the government was under no legal obligation to furnish them with alternative accommodation.

The group, led by Justus Muthumbi and Timothy Wanyanga, wanted the government to give them alternative houses before their current dwellings are demolished. They said that they have been residing in the low cost houses, paying monthly rent of between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000, for long.

They accused the ministry and the Inspector General of Police of harassing them to leave the houses yet they had nowhere else to move to.

They also claimed that the government had failed to involve them in the plans and there was no indication that they would be allocated the new houses. It was also their contention that the ministry had failed to come up with an environmental impact assessment report, among other requirements, before the houses are build.

They argued that other civil servants in Shuari Moyo area C were first allocated house before eviction. The civil servants were first issued with an eviction notice on November 3, 2014. The notice was extended several times as they sought to iron out their differences but the residents later moved to court and stopped the scheme.

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