Nairobi County Government tenants of the houses earmarked for demolition set to get free apartments in the renewal plan.
The plan, if implemented is likely to cut down the number of cases filed by tenants of city council and government houses who have been complaining citing non involvement of the current upgrading.
Speaking at the Big 5 Construct East Africa Fair in Nairobi, Public Works Principal Secretary Peter Maringa said freeing up land for affordable housing would help redefine the living spaces for low income earners.
He said Nairobi’s Old Pangani estate currently accommodating 48 dilapidated housing units was among those earmarked to be piloted and will see it redesigned and developed into a 1,434 residential units.
“Other approved projects are in Eastlands, Ngara and Pangani that are set for a presidential launch soon. We are activating the entire construction value chain where approvals for designs, registration, labour resource and handing over of sites to the contracted developers is to be done,” he said.
Established in the 1950’s with the current 48 housing units, Pangani Estate once redeveloped will comprise basement parking, a borehole and a swimming pool with outdoor sports and squash courts, a gym and playgrounds.
Project designs also show a kindergarten is to be constructed on a section of the land as well as a health facility and a shopping centre.
The new projects could also redefine mass housing developments where pre-cast factory made wall panels will be key to construction unlike the traditional projects where stones are pre-dominantly used.
Urban Renewal Project for five pioneer Nairobi estates is poised for ground breaking this month after Nairobi County and the national government agreed on modalities for relocation of tenants to facilitate handing over of project sites to contracted developers.