Coast lobbyists are now calling on the Mombasa County government to regularize informal settlements as they form a bigger percentage of housing within the county. – By Ramadhan Kambi
With more than 70 informal settlements in the county, then this sector cannot be wished away because it forms part of the housing structures that the devolved government has to make its input and it cannot be taken for granted by the devolved government.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa, Haki Yetu Organization Lands and Governance officer John Paul Obonyo said the there was need for the county to fully engage locals in sensitizing locals on land and housing matters.
“The county should ensure residents are fully involved in the process of planning. All informal settlements should be regularized,” said Obonyo.
Mombasa County planning Officer Richard Manyala said the county recently formed the Mombasa county lands formalization and regularization committee which is expected to look into the matter for action.
Mr Manyala said the role of the committee involves identifying and replacing the informal settlements within the county.
“Most of the plots in Nyali Sub County are under leasehold and Kenyans should engage the services of a legal professional before undertaking any land issue,” he said.
Tunaweza Women with Disability executive director Charity Chahasi appealed to the county government to ensure housing being part of the big four agenda takes into account the rights of persons with disability.
She wondered why some of the public utilities have not taken into account the rights of PWD’s.
“We still have some of the public utilities that are still not disability friendly. This is too sad. We cannot talk of living in the 21st century when our rights are still a dream,”
Nyanje Luganje, a Kenya National Commission on Human Rights lawyer says housing is a basic human right as stipulated in the constitution, adding that the right to adequate housing entails among others accessibility for special groups such as people with disability and victims of natural disasters.
“The constitution gives Kenyans an opportunity to ensure Kenyans access information. The law is binding and housing is a basic right for all Kenyans,” he said.
