Nakuru County has issued a seven-day eviction orders to more than 1,150 rent defaulters from the county estates, a move that the residents have greatly opposed and their area representatives.
According to the county, the residents owe the county government more than Sh40 million, an amount accumulated for the past several years.
Led by Flamingo Ward MCA Moses Gichangi, they claimed that the county increased the rent without consulting them and that it should reduce rent on ground that most residents are not able to afford the increased amount.
“The constitution of Kenya gives every Kenyan a right to access to clean environment, water but in our estates the condition is pathetic where some houses leak whenever there is rai,” said Gichangi.
According to George Owino, a representative of County estate residents, the county government has gone against the court order which was issued in 2005 restraining the defunct Municipal Council to increase the house rent.
“Other Estates has seen the rent increased from Sh850 to Sh3500, Sh2500 to Sh6,000, money which is out of reach of the residents,” said Owino.
The County government had initially waived the rent arrears for all County estates amounting to Sh320 million as the residents were unable to raise due to accrued arrears over the years.
However Lands and housing Executive Rachiel Maina said defaulters should pay all arrears to enable renovation aimed at improving status of the houses.
“Among estates that have been renovated include Lumumba, Abongoleya and Flamingo Phase Two in the ongoing renovation project aimed at improving condition of the houses,” said Maina.