For months, the redevelopment of Makongeni estate in Makadara has been the subject of heated public debate, with claims ranging from alleged evictions to concerns over compensation, safety, and transparency.
However, narratives from the project’s engagement process, as well as a progress report, paint a far more detailed picture showing what officials describe as the most structured, documented and people-centred process in the history of Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Makongeni is the first estate to benefit from the long-planned Eastlands Urban Renewal Masterplan, which aims to transition the area into a “modern, greener, safer neighbourhood where current residents will return as priority beneficiaries.”
But with its ageing blocks, dense settlement patterns and complex tenancy structures, the transition has stirred anxiety.
To address this, the project implementors say they have addressed issues raised by residents during a lengthy public participation, which involved barazas, door-to-door dialogues, validation workshops, and grievance sessions, all of which were documented in real time.
Were residents consulted?
One of the loudest claims has been that residents were never involved in planning the redevelopment.
Documents, however, show a months-long cycle of engagement including enumeration, verification, barazas, household visits, RAP (Relocation Action Plan) workshops, grievance redress forums and consent signing.
An ongoing enumeration process
“This wasn’t a box-ticking exercise. Every voice was heard and every step documented because Makongeni’s history and its households matter,” the engagement report states.
Is this an eviction?
The government insists the redevelopment is not an eviction but a managed relocation anchored on consent.
“No one was forced out. Every household moved after receiving full facilitation and signing consent forms,” project officials note.
Concerns about land value and compensation
Some residents questioned whether the State overpaid for Makongeni land. Officials dismiss this, saying the acquisition was based on a professional valuation aligned with pension regulations, and that private developers have paid more for nearby land.
The project is tied to the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, which officials say safeguards pensioners while enabling urban renewal.
On the contentious KSh150,000 relocation facilitation amount, the report stresses that the payment is only one component of a wider support system, which also includes transport help, school transition support, job opportunities and safety assistance.
What about extended family members?
A recurring question has been whether adult children or grandchildren of original tenants also deserve compensation.
The government says the process follows global practice, recognising only primary occupants. The 3,601 validated households were confirmed through enumeration and grievance reviews.
Paying beyond that, the document says, “would be unlawful and unfair to the community’s agreed principles.”
Relocation support and safety fears
Residents who feared being left on their own during relocation were assured of a full RAP plan that includes security deployment, psychosocial support, temporary shelters and transport arrangements.
Women raised concerns about safety, prompting deployment of female security officers, improved lighting, patrols in hotspots and GBV hotline activation.
“Safety is not just a policy here, it is a commitment to dignity, peace of mind, and emotional well-being for every woman and child,” the response states.
Impact on children, youth, PWDs, and the elderly
Fears that schooling would be disrupted are addressed with school transfer letters and confirmed placements in nearby institutions.
Traders are set to receive relocation and business continuity support, including priority for new commercial spaces once the project is completed.
At the same time, youth will be absorbed into construction, recycling, logistics and environmental management roles, positioning the project as “a youth opportunity programme.”
PWDs were specifically identified and prioritised for accessible units, escort support, transport assistance and ground-floor allocation.
The future estate will feature ramps, rails, wide doors and bright lighting. Elderly residents will move in staggered timelines with counselling and assisted movement.
What about churches, schools, and local institutions?
Contrary to claims that the project will displace community institutions, the government says churches, schools and NGOs are moving in phases and will retain their programs.
In the rebuilt Makongeni, they are expected to become expanded service hubs.
The government has clarified that the estate won’t undergo demolition, but transformation to upgrade the housing and sewerage systems.
“Makongeni is not a demolition story, it is a renewal story. The estate will be rebuilt with modern housing, green spaces, a hospital, schools, commercial hubs, safer streets and thousands of jobs. This is not the end of a community — it is the transformation of one.”
By Nairobi