Nairobi County Government has won a court case, allowing the construction of modern housing units in Woodley Estate to move forward. The Environment and Land Court in Nairobi dismissed a petition filed by the Woodley Residents Welfare Association and other petitioners, who had opposed the plan.
The petitioners wanted to stop the eviction of current tenants from the estate, where the County, in partnership with Africa Reit Limited, plans to build 1,900 new housing units. Although Governor Johnson Sakaja had already compensated 43 tenants with Ksh. 900,000 each and provided them with letters guaranteeing ownership of the new units once completed. The petitioners claimed there had been corruption in the sale of the houses, leaving many original tenants without a chance to own a home.
The County argued that this issue had already been decided in a previous case and could not be brought up again. The court agreed, ruling that the petition was trying to reopen matters that had been settled before. The petition was dismissed, and the court awarded costs to the County and its partner, Africa Reit Limited.
On August 20, 2024, Governor Sakaja met with the 43 tenants who received their compensation and allotment letters, preparing them to move out so construction could begin. This follows an agreement signed by the tenants to vacate their homes and make way for the project.
Governor Sakaja highlighted that this was the first time a government had compensated tenants with such a large amount to help them relocate. The redevelopment will take place on a 10-acre section of Woodley Estate’s 100-acre land and is part of a larger effort to modernize old estates across Nairobi.
The court’s ruling clears the way for the urban renewal project and highlights the importance of balancing individual concerns with the need to address Kenya’s housing crisis.
