Residents of Mvita Constituency have been urged to take advantage of the Affordable Housing Programme and apply for units in projects being implemented in Mombasa County.

Speaking during a sensitisation forum at Tononoka Social Hall in Mombasa, Mvita Member of Parliament Mohamed Soud Machele urged residents to familiarise themselves with the application and allocation process to avoid missing out on housing opportunities.

Machele said the forum was organised to address concerns among Mvita residents that people from other parts of the county could take up housing units meant for them.

He assured residents that the sensitisation exercise would equip them with the information needed to participate in the programme and benefit from housing projects planned for the constituency.

“Several affordable housing projects are in the pipeline in Mvita, beginning with the two projects at Makupa Market and Hobley Road. The Hobley Road project will provide about 1,800 housing units,” said Machele.

He added that once the two projects were completed, the programme would move to Old Town, where plans include the construction of a fish market and housing units.

Machele said the projects were being implemented according to approved designs and standards, adding that the houses were intended to benefit residents of Mvita.

“This is the first lot in the first five years in the country. It is a continuous process. So far, 230,000 houses have been constructed, and we are more than 50 million in the country and we cannot satisfy everyone for now,” he said.

The MP encouraged Mvita residents to understand the application requirements and take advantage of the opportunities as more affordable housing projects are rolled out across the constituency.

Mombasa County Director for Affordable Housing Meshak Otieno said many residents were still not familiar with the process of acquiring affordable housing units, and it was important for them to obtain the information so they could participate and benefit from the programme.

He explained that the affordable housing units were open to eligible residents and were not reserved for specific individuals, adding that allocation would be done on a first-come, first-served basis after an applicant had paid a five per cent deposit for their preferred unit.

“Mombasa is a city which many people have an interest in, even people who are not residents of this city, and we should not sit down and let other people get the slots,” said Otieno.

He added that the Nyali VOK Affordable Housing Project was still ongoing and would comprise 1,938 units at a cost of Sh5.9 billion. The project is expected to be handed over by March next year, while the Hobley Road affordable housing project would cost Sh4.5 billion and comprise 1,752 units.

“Other affordable housing projects in the pipeline include a 2,148-unit development in Changamwe and a 153-unit project at Makupa. The government plans to modernise Sega, Changamwe and Jomvu markets,” said Otieno.

Otieno further noted that the government was investing in student accommodation projects across Mombasa County, including student hostels at Shanzu Teachers Training College at a cost of Sh225 million, NYS hostels estimated at Sh735 million, and student accommodation at KMTC, Port Reitz and Likoni TVC.

“The government has invested a lot in Mombasa County by bringing affordable housing projects, building markets and hostels for our students, and there are many job opportunities that have come with these projects,” said Otieno.

Otieno said the affordable housing projects would provide different categories of units, including studio apartments, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses. Applicants would select units based on their financial capability, pay a five per cent deposit and receive an allocation letter, with keys issued upon completion of the houses.

Maurice Ogutu Keno, a Tononoka resident who has lived in Mombasa since 1989, welcomed the projects and urged residents to embrace the affordable housing programme because of the long-term benefits of home ownership.

“To me, owning a house will be of great benefit, especially to my children and grandchildren. They will not be paying rent as I am now paying rent,” said Keno.

Another resident, Phyllis Keiza of Tudor, expressed gratitude for the government’s affordable housing initiative, saying home ownership would provide her family with long-term security.

“I shall own my own house and I shall rest from paying the monthly rent, though we shall still be paying some little amount. The ownership will be of great value to me,” said Keiza.

by Mary Mtawa and Whiteny Alice