Why hitches have rocked William Ruto's Mukuru affordable housing

Boma Yangu new Mukuru housing estate. [Wilberforce Okwiri,standard] For three months now, Wainaina Mwangi, 65, a tenant at the New Mukuru Boma Yangu Estate, has been homeless. This even after he had been told that his bedsitter house on the 11th floor, house number 17 on AB block, was ready. "They told me that my unit was used as a show house when President William Ruto came to launch the houses towards the end of May," said Mwangi, who said that he has been asking neighbours for a place to sleep. He added, "I asked them to remove the furniture so that I can get a place to sleep. They came, opened, and when I left with my padlock on, I came and found they had removed it and put the furniture back and locked again with their padlock. I have now become a squatter and wonder why they can't allow me to enter my house and just use the furniture." Mwangi, who had to send his family to his rural home in Murang'a until he gets his house, came from a slum near the Riara Springs Primary School. He said officials at the site have been taking him in circles with claims they will consult to help him get his house back. "My son lives in the slum with his family. I can't go and live with him," said Mwangi ,who is also diabetic An official at the apartment told The Standard that they will start clearing the house for Mwangi by next week. But Mwangi is not alone. Benard Ingwela is part of the AC block tenants who are suffering from a non-functional lift and a lack of furniture. Ingwela said the second lift on the block has not been functional for two weeks. "We came knowing there was furniture, but they are not there. That is the second challenge we have apart from the non-functional lift," said Ingwela, who also lived in a slum near Riara Springs Primary School in Embakasi South Constituency. He added: "I was told to be patient so that furniture will be brought, and so I am still waiting.". Initial plans were that those moving in would find a bed, a three-seater sofa, a mattress and a offee table. Affordable Housing Board chief executive, Sheila Waweru, said the second phase of the procurement process of furniture is underway after the first phase suffered from over-demand issues. "Production of the second phase of furniture is ongoing, and we will commence distribution in about three weeks. We have engaged local Jua Kalis to make them a way of empowering them," she said. Ingwela, who stays with his wife, took the children to the rural home during relocation. He asked the management to improve security around the estate and ensure each of the five blocks has guards. "This will ensure that the guards record details of all guests entering the compounds, complete with the houses they are going to," he said. It's these security lapses that Peninah Ndegi, 57, a mother of two who came from Marigoini slum near South B, raised security concerns. She said that some tenants sell alcohol and bhang in their houses. "This does not please me, it will lead to lawlessness, that we have escaped from the slums, and it will destroy our children. The government should check on that," she said. Some of the theothermplaints include water from the boreholes, which tenants claim is salty. There are two water sources: from the borehole in the compound and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company(NCWSC), but both have been merged. This has forced other tenants to buy non-salty water from outside the estate for drinking purposes. "Let them separate the NCWSC water tap for drinking because what we have now is salty ", Ndegi said. She asks the government to ensure other tenants get help to get furniture, saying failure to do so has discouraged some from entering the houses despite paying for them. These are just some of the teething issues that affect the tenants. The government extended the offer till the end of this month, but it will also depend on a lot of things since some have moved in just two weeks ago. So far, out of the five blocks of phase one, consisting of 1,080 houses, the official said several have been occupied. For AB, which was the first block and has 216 units, some 203 houses have been occupied. Overall, some 648 units have been occupied, leaving 432 houses vacant. On infrastructure, the tenants complain that they still have issues with schooling, where they have to take their children outside the estate. Presently, some of the infrastructure, such as the Early Childhood Education(ECDE) centre,e re under ongoing roofing before plastering. A complete day care is waiting for painting, the ceiling and clearing of the compound. The tenants also said they still have issues with getting medical care and food since the dispensary is not yet complete. Some tenants have now put sheds outside the estate to sell small things like vegetables, fruits and have complained of being harassed by Nairobi City County officials for the same. However, inside are 50 complete stalls waiting to be officially allocated to tenants for use by next week, according to Ms Waweru. Also not ready is a police post and fire station, and now police officers are using some rooms of the fire station to operate.

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