A group that lobbies for humane housing conditions provisioned by the National Urban Renewal Affordable Housing Project has raised eyebrows over the rate of Deposits demanded by Nairobi Metropolitan Services(NMS).
Jericho Lumumba is one of the 10 estates that are targeted for an upgrade by the NMS and the residents were promised first priority.
Jericho Lumumba Residents Association(JLRA) Chairman, Walter Ogoli indicated that the 10 to 12 percent initial deposit required by NMS is prohibitive for the majority of residents of the estate.
“Majority of tenants in the estate fall at the bottom rungs of the income ladder. To demand such rates means many will be denied houses.” Chairman Ogoli told an engagement forum at Charles New Methodist Church attended by NMS deputy director of Urban Renewal Affordable Housing Programme.
The NMS requires a payment of Ksh1 million for a one-bedroom unit, Ksh2 Million for a two-bedroom unit and Ksh3 million for a three-bedroom unit respectively.
“Demands for residents to remit Ksh 300,000 or 10 percent of the amount signals an intent to deny cardholders the right to own the houses” Ogola added.
The association also wants the NMS to add 3000 more units as a benefit for the siblings of the tenants under the affordable housing policy in addition to the 1388 units pledged by NMS.
The chairman proposed for an award of a free 3- bedroom unit as a good gesture to the tenants for being custodians of the land from land grabbers for more than 60 years.
The vice Chairlady of the JLRA, Jane Achieng also made a proposition for allocation of 150 units for rent to bring a net income of Ksh3 Million per month.
Cartels
Achieng also cited the possibility of the emergence of rogue housing brokers that could exploit tenants once the project is completed.
She indicated that the association should be the official house agents for the project and will be mandated to handle garbage collection, water, electricity and maintenance of infrastructure.
The National Housing Corporation has already issued a caution to Kenyans against fraudsters posing as agents authorized to allocate and negotiate sale agreements of the new affordable houses under the same housing scheme in Park road, Ngara.
