Thursday, 17 April, 2025
Housing Committee grills NHC over Park Road Estate woes๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ, ๐๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐.
The Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works has taken the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to task over persistent challenges affecting homeowners at the Park Road Estate.
Chaired by Vice Chairperson Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi, the Committee demanded accountability and clarity from the Corporation, particularly on the delayed issuance of sectional title deeds to homeowners who have already completed payments.
"Just tell us if youโre unable to deliver the deeds. Residents need clarity. The information we have is that no deeds will be issued until all units are allocated. Is that true?" Hon. Mugambi pressed.
In response, Eng. Thomas Ofwa, General Manager for Construction and Project Management at NHC assured the Committee that the title deeds would be ready by the end of June 2025. He attributed the delay to documentation errors, noting that steps were being taken to fast-track the process.
โWeโre working to resolve the issues quickly. Our target is to have the deeds processed and handed over by June,โ said Eng. Ofwa.
Appearing before the Committee, officials from the Boma Yangu Park Road Homeowners Association, led by Chairperson Mr. Joel Atuti, outlined a raft of unresolved issues plaguing residents. These included incomplete water works, poor lighting, a dysfunctional generator and fire hydrant pump, lack of a firefighting system for the transformer, illegal exits at Block E, an incomplete perimeter wall, inadequate security, poor maintenance, and non-operational lifts during power surges.
โThere is no water meter for the common areas, and the lifts often fail when power goes out. Residents are frustrated,โ Mr. Atuti told the Committee.
Committee Members acknowledged the concerns and further raised questions regarding insufficient water supply, the absence of ramps for persons with disabilities, the improper renting out of affordable housing units, and a lack of transparency in the use of service charges.
Defending the Corporation, NHC Managing Director QS David Mathu Njuguna outlined efforts to improve water supply, including the drilling of a borehole and installation of a one-million-litre underground storage tank. He said these interventions had increased total water capacity to 2.1 million litres.
QS Mathu further explained that the Ksh. The 3,000 monthly service charge covers land rates, security, cleaning, garbage collection, repairs and maintenance, lift servicing, and utility bills for common areas.
โWe acknowledge that some aspects, like disability access, were overlooked in the initial design. Going forward, we must incorporate the full life-cycle management of affordable housing,โ QS Mathu admitted.
On the issue of unit rentals and overcrowding, the MD noted that current regulations do not define occupancy limits, and many units are rented out by public servants based outside Nairobi.
โWeโre not blind to these issues. We are working closely with the State Department for Housing and Urban Development to improve the quality of living for all Park Road residents,โ he assured the Committee.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Mugambi reaffirmed the Committeeโs commitment to ensuring that the Park Road housing project delivers on its promise.
โThis Committee is fully behind the residents. We will make sure your voices are heard and that your title deeds are delivered without further delay,โ he said.