Residents of the fast growing Teachers and Mawanga twin estates located along Nakuru-Nyahururu highway want local estate brokers and landlords to reduce rent in order for them to gain maximum benefits.
According to the Chairman of Mawanga Teachers Business Owners Association (METABOA) James Maina, who is also resident of the area, residents are up in arms with the local rental houses for taking advantage of the influx of Sudanese refugees in the area to increase rent rates.
While talking to landlords and local commercial agents, who are members of the association on Saturday morning at KITI Guest House, during a housing and estate management forum, Maina observed that most modern rental units in the area were being occupied by Sudanese refugees, while ordinary residents keep off the houses because of high rates.
He observed that the residential area is a middle class area, whose rates cannot be compared with other areas like Milimani, Naka and section 58, hence local landlords and agents need to consider reducing rates to attract more ordinary residents.
“This is not an area occupied by rich people. It is an ordinary estate for ordinary struggling Kenyans. The influx of Sudanese refugees here has forced ordinary residents to shy off from modern rental units because of the high rates fixed to rip maximum returns from the refugees,” he said.