GulfCAP CEO urges Mombasa County to keep politics out of Buxton Point project

Ochieng said the controversy surrounding the development was creating unnecessary uncertainty at a critical stage, with 492 homeowners expected to take possession of their units in December.

He urged the county government to allow the project to proceed without political interference, arguing that the dispute was putting both the interests of prospective homeowners and the jobs supported by the development at risk.

“It is very unfortunate that Mombasa County officials are bringing politics into a national project. We have 492 homeowners who expect to take possession of their units by December. Beyond the homeowners, hundreds of people depend on this project for employment and their daily livelihoods,” Ochieng said.

The CEO warned that Mombasa risked repeating the experience of other housing developments that stalled despite significant public interest, citing the Mzizima housing project, which he said was demolished years ago but has yet to resume construction.

Addressing concerns raised by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning and Housing Mohammed Hussein over the project's Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, Ochieng maintained that the facility had already been constructed and was being used by the project team.

He said the centre would be officially handed over to the county in December alongside the 492 residential units.

Ochieng also defended restrictions preventing children from accessing the construction site, citing safety concerns and the risks posed by ongoing building activities.

“We cannot allow children into an active construction site. What happens if a brick or another construction material accidentally falls on a child? We have a responsibility to ensure their safety,” he said.

He further maintained that the county government was fully aware of the project's development plans, saying the architectural designs and construction plans had been submitted to and approved by the relevant county authorities.

On the allocation of housing units to the county government, Ochieng clarified that Mombasa was entitled to a 10 per cent share under the contractual arrangements, but insisted that the units would only be handed over upon completion of the project.

He argued that demands for the allocation before the development was completed were premature and commercially impractical.

“The county is entitled to its 10 per cent share, as provided for in the contract. However, these units are to be delivered at the end of the project. Demanding them in the middle of an ongoing development is not reasonable,” he said.

Ochieng urged the county to honour the existing contractual arrangements and allow GulfCap to fulfil its obligations before raising further demands.

He also sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the relocation of former Buxton residents, saying they were tenants of the Mombasa County Government and not GulfCap.

According to the CEO, the county issued notices terminating the tenancies, with the termination agreements signed between the county government and the affected residents before GulfCap was handed vacant possession of the land in accordance with the project agreement.

He said the developer had documentation supporting the process and was willing to make the records available for scrutiny.

Ochieng added that GulfCap provided the former residents with KSh240,000 each as goodwill assistance to facilitate their relocation and resettlement.

He emphasised that the payments were humanitarian assistance rather than compensation.

The developer also offered former residents preferential prices to purchase houses within Buxton Point. Some managed to acquire units during Phase One, while others could not proceed because they were awaiting the introduction of a Tenant Purchase Scheme.

Ochieng said GulfCap had gone beyond its contractual obligations by pursuing approval of the scheme through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development to enable former residents who could not afford the initial purchase arrangements to become homeowners.

He noted that the developer had consistently engaged the national government on the proposal, adding that the President had also made a commitment regarding its implementation.

However, he clarified that the scheme's implementation falls under the national government's mandate and is therefore beyond the developer's direct control.

The CEO further questioned the legality of the county government's recent actions, describing the alleged interference as an abuse of political power.

Despite the dispute, Ochieng maintained that GulfCap remained committed to completing and handing over the development in line with its contractual obligations to the Mombasa County Government, the national government and the 492 homeowners.

“We remain committed to delivering this project on time. Our responsibility is to the agreements we signed, the 492 homeowners waiting for their houses and the hundreds of families whose livelihoods depend on this project. We should all be working towards its successful completion rather than allowing politics to derail it,” he said.

He called on the county government to pursue any outstanding concerns through established contractual and institutional channels, rather than actions that could disrupt construction and delay the handover.