Governor Hassan Joho's Buxton housing project has been halted by the Senate Committee on Roads and Transport.
The committee, chaired by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, made the orders following petitions from a section of Mombasa residents through Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, who claim the project is shrouded in secrecy while being implemented on public land.
Also, a major concern by the committee that toured the project yesterday, was how the affected persons were to be resettled and the compensation packages.
Mombasa County on March 19 and started issuing a relocation allowance of Sh240,000 to the affected tenants. In addition, the developer paid a Sh60,000 deposit for each family as commitment for buying the units.
“There are a lot of issues on compensation, issues of resettlement. We also want the documentation of whole contract agreements because this is a public property and it remains as such,” Senator Wamatangi stated.
The commission took issue with Joho's absence from the meeting despite being told that the governor was out of the country.
It ordered Joho and the project developer to appear in person and issue the required documents to enable the committee to make an informed decision.
Acting County Secretary Job Tumbo defended Joho's absence, saying that when they received the communication from the Senate, the governor was not in the country.
Tumbo, who was in attendance, said he had notified the commission that Joho would not be physically present. He said Joho was willing to testify virtually.
"The appearance of Governor Joho whom we have interacted so well in the past over this matter before us is not optional nor negotiable.
"He was supposed to appear before us under summons. His office received our communication and even went ahead and acknowledged receipt of the same," Wamatangi stated.
The committee also summoned Governor Hassan Joho and Buxton Point CEO Ahmed Badawy to present detailed documents on the project’s joint venture agreement.
Buxton Point Company is affiliated with the Mombasa tycoon Suleiman Shahbal.
Wamatangi said Joho has 14 days to supply the committee with all the documents.
The committee also wants documents to prove that the project went through the tendering process.
Wamatangi said the county should provide documents that showed how the project was tendered, advertised in national newspapers, resolutions by the executive and minutes of committee meetings held before the developer was awarded the tender.
