Planned demolition of colonial estate leaves residents in panic

A general view of the Hobley Housing Estate in Mombasa, which the government issued vacated notice to the occupants to pave the way for the affordable housing project. At least 500 families of public servants who occupy the housing premises have until 1st of October 2024 to vacate them. [Robert Menza, Standard]

Since 2016, authorities in Mombasa have been in a race to roll out the ambitious urban renewal and redevelopment of old estates in a programme aimed to establish at least 30,000 housing units.

The investment through private investors and estimated at Sh200 billion has since put government employees, who mostly reside in the old estates, in a panic mode following a series of evictions and demolitions of the homes in prime locations.