The Court of Appeal in Mombasa has issued temporary orders stopping planned demolition of houses by the Mombasa County government.
The court issued the order following an application by three organizations who want the status quo maintained.
Legal Advice Centre, Haki Yetu St Patrick’s and Transparency International Kenya moved to the Court of Appeal after the High Court ruled that the housing project would proceed.
The three organizations were challenging the implementation of the Sh200 billion housing project by the Mombasa government citing lack of public participation.
The organisations argued that the county government did not seek views from them as key stakeholders in the design, conceptualization or anticipated implementation of the plan.
In the housing project, the county government seeks to demolish and reconstruct ten estates in the county.
During the Monday hearing, the three organizations through lawyer Willis Oluga wanted to have the status quo maintained adding that the case should be heard on priority basis as contractors were already in some estates.
Lawyer Oluga further argued that the High Court erred by ruling that the County Urban Renewal and Redevelopment programme was formulated with public participation and that right to adequate housing is not threatened.
The date for hearing the appeal will be fixed at the registry.