A storm is brewing around the Buxton housing redevelopment project in Mombasa County, as residents raise red flags over stalled progress, broken promises, and a lack of transparency from county authorities.

The Senate Committee on Roads and Housing held a consultative public hearing with the former residents of Buxton Estate at Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.

Launched on November 2, 2023, with great fanfare, the Buxton Project was meant to be a beacon of urban renewal, offering affordable housing through a rent-to-own model for long-standing tenants. However, more than 18 months later, many residents say they are still in the dark and feel betrayed by a government they trusted.

“The Senate gave recommendations which were to be implemented within 60 days,” said a resident representative John Tsuma during the meeting between the Senate and the former residents’ association. “To this day, there has been no official report or indication that the county government has acted on these instructions.”

According to residents, the only documents that have been made available pertain to redevelopment plans, a resettlement action plan, and a list of conditions, described as “unbearable.” Critically, the Joint Venture (JV) agreement, which is supposed to govern the partnership between the county government and the private developer, has never been shared publicly.

“Our fear is that the project is cloaked in secrecy,” said Mama Amina, a former resident of Buxton Estate. “The county appears to be more invested in the interests of the developer than those of its own people.”

Tensions have further escalated following claims that the county is attempting to reclassify the project land as private property, an action formalized through an affidavit filed by the county attorney. Such a move, critics say, threatens to deny residents the very home ownership opportunities they were promised.

In contrast to other housing schemes like those in Nairobi’s Mukuru and Starehe areas—where studio apartments and one to three bedroom units come with clear rent-to-own frameworks, Buxton tenants remain in limbo. The community has yet to receive allotment letters specifying the units they would occupy or any formal recognition of the 10% share the county supposedly holds on their behalf.

“The community deserves better. We demand full implementation of the Senate’s recommendations, fair share in Phase One, and transparency going forward,” residents declared in a united statement.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad said, “We are committed to give the former residents of Buxton the 184 units allocated to the county government by the developer as soon as the houses are handed over to us.”

As frustrations mount, the Buxton community continues to call for justice and inclusion in a project that was meant to uplift them but is increasingly seen as leaving them behind.

Senate Committee on Roads and Housing chairman Eddy Oketch assured the former residents that the committee is working to ensure that the matter is resolved conclusively and residents to get their promised apartments in Buxton Point phase two which will be completed in two years.

Senators present were Vice Chairman Dr. Lelegwe Ltumbesi, Miraj Abdillahi, Enock Wambua, John Kinyua, Mohammed Chute and Peris Tobiko