The Buxton Point housing development is at the centre of a dispute over unmet commitments.
The county demands its agreed share of units as displaced families seek promised homes and outstanding rent support.
Mombasa County Government has halted construction at the Buxton housing project over disputed allocations and outstanding commitments to displaced families. The suspension takes immediate effect, Lands and Housing County Executive Committee Member Mohammed Hussein announced on November 10.
Hussein accused the contractor of failing to honour obligations to both the county and former estate residents. He said construction would remain on hold until the parties addressed those commitments and reached an agreement.
The county official also said he would issue a formal letter stopping construction. He described the decision as an accountability measure.
Buxton housing project faces allocation dispute
At the centre of the dispute is the county’s entitlement under a joint venture agreement. Hussein said the agreement reserves 10 per cent of the housing units and commercial spaces for the county.
However, he maintained that the county had not received that allocation. The development comprises approximately 1,800 homes, and the county is demanding 180 units under the agreement.
The county had previously raised concerns about implementation and corresponded with the developer over outstanding obligations. Its latest action also brings attention back to commitments made when redevelopment began at the former estate. Those commitments included protecting displaced households and ensuring the project delivered the agreed public benefits.
Displaced families seek promised homes
Meanwhile, former residents say they left the estate more than seven years ago after receiving promises of a return within a year. They also claim the government failed to pay all the promised support for temporary rental housing.
One resident said the agreed assistance totalled Ksh300,000, but the household received only Ksh240,000. Residents allege that the balance was to serve as a deposit towards the new homes.
They further say the agreement gave them priority when the homes became available. Another resident stressed that families wanted the promised houses, not free units, and remained willing to pay.
Separately, six Kenyans led by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah have challenged the mandatory 1.5 per cent housing levy. They filed a Supreme Court appeal on November 9, seeking to stop deductions and obtain refunds.
The petitioners also want Sections 4 and 5 of the Act declared unlawful and KRA barred from collecting the levy. They argue that tax measures must remain fair and avoid placing a disproportionate burden on poor and marginalised people.
