A view of Mukuru Kwa Njenga
Residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi are planning to use personal savings to build permanent houses in a plot of land adjacent to the slums.
The residents, who have formed a powerful collective of 2,200 members, have raised Sh60 million to facilitate the construction of 3,000 affordable housing units on a 23-acre plot next to the informal settlement.
Dubbed Greenfield Project, the development is scheduled to start early next year with the construction of several two-storey apartment buildings.
“With Sh60 million in capital, a title deed and a mortgage through Eco Bank, we are ready to begin construction early next year,” said Robert Mironga, chairman of the Greenfield Project.
Upon completion of the development, tenants will pay Sh10 per day towards their mortgage – with each homeowner contributing Sh45,000 in total.
Located near Mombasa Road, Mukuru Kwa Njenga is home to about 80,000 people living in makeshift homes.
The slum was formed in 1958 when casual labourers settled on the land then owned by white settlers.
