The Nairobi City County Assembly Planning and Housing Committee chairman Geoffrey Majiwa /HANDOUT
The Nairobi City County Assembly's Planning and Housing Committee has launched an inquiry into the prolonged delay in the completion of the Jeevanjee Housing Project being undertaken by Jabavu Village Limited.
The move follows complaints from Taqwa Sacco, which says over 200 of its members invested in the housing development and have collectively paid Sh387 million to Jabavu Village Limited.
Speaking before the committee, Taqwa Sacco representative Dunia Abdi Jarso said the stalled project has created a financial and governance crisis within the SACCO, with members increasingly accusing officials of colluding with the developer to defraud them of their savings.
"We have been seeking intervention from different stakeholders, including the Senate, the Governor, the Ministry of Housing and others. This project was meant to address the housing demand and provide Kenyans with decent homes," said Abdi.
He noted that many investors had committed their life savings to the project, including pensioners and workers hoping to secure homes upon retirement.
"We have members who invested their pension benefits, others who saved for years hoping to own a home, and many who saw this project as their future. The continued delays have left them frustrated and uncertain," he added.
Planning and Housing Committee Chairman Geoffrey Majiwa said the committee will move swiftly to establish the circumstances that led to the stalling of the project despite substantial financing being available.
According to Majiwa, questions have emerged over the utilization of funds, including a reported Sh1.9 billion loan allegedly secured using a county title deed.
"We have summoned the investor, including the directors and the chairman of the company, county officials and the affected investors. We want clarity because the figures involved run into hundreds of millions of shillings," said Majiwa.
He added that officials from the county's Housing and Urban Development departments will also be required to appear before the committee to explain their role and provide updates on the status of the project.
"The project was supposed to be delivered within two years, but seven years later it remains incomplete. We want to know what went wrong and who should be held accountable," Majiwa added.
The inquiry is expected to examine the project's financing, implementation timeline, contractual obligations and the role of county officials in overseeing its execution, as pressure mounts from investors seeking answers over their long-delayed housing units.
