Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has publicly accused Nairobi’s current administration, under Governor Johnson Sakaja, of misleading the public regarding ownership of title deeds for the Jeevanjee and Pangani affordable housing projects. Sonko clarified that he does not personally hold the title for the Jeevanjee project, as recent claims have suggested, but instead asserts that the titles are secured by the National Bank of Kenya as collateral for a Ksh.1.9 billion loan. Sonko emphasized that the bank holds these titles to secure financing for the projects.
From his Upperhill office, Sonko provided documentation supporting his statement, detailing how the County Government and a private investor had used the titles as security for the loan. He referenced an April 18, 2020, letter from then-acting County Secretary Patrick Analo, which sought assembly approval to deposit the Pangani Estate title deed for a loan dedicated to urban renewal. Sonko further noted a January 1, 2023, letter from the National Bank, confirming the disbursement of Ksh.1.9 billion to the project’s private developer, following a successful charge on the property.
Sonko criticized the recent assertion by Nairobi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Built Environment and Urban Planning that Sonko still held the title. The CECM’s statement led Kitisuru MCA Alvin Palapala, who chairs the County Assembly’s Planning and Housing Committee, to consider summoning Sonko for clarification. Sonko dismissed this as a diversionary tactic, stressing that senior county officials are signatories to the loan agreement and should be held accountable for the project’s current state.
During his address, Sonko warned of potential exploitation of original tenants, suggesting that there may be efforts to transfer the project to cartels. He called for the project’s swift completion without what he termed "unnecessary drama." Sonko also referenced past compensations made during his administration to 48 homeowners at Old Pangani Estate, amounting to Ksh.28.8 million, with each tenant receiving Ksh.600,000 to facilitate relocation and a promise of priority housing upon the project’s completion.
To further clarify ownership, Sonko shared that the provisional certificate for the land was issued on July 2, 2016, and transferred from the colonial registry to Nairobi County on July 1, 2018, under a 99-year lease. He urged Governor Sakaja and the County Assembly to verify this information directly with the Ministry of Lands, noting that the lease transfer was finalized on July 24, 2019, in the presence of key officials, including the County Secretary and representatives of Nairobi Jeevanjee Estate Limited.
Sonko urged the current administration to verify records and focus on delivering the promised housing, dismissing the public controversy as a distraction from pressing issues.