Government Breaks Ground on Makongeni Mega Redevelopment as Eastlands Renewal Finally Takes Off

The government has officially kicked off the long-awaited redevelopment of Makongeni Estate, marking the first major implementation of the Eastlands Urban Renewal Masterplan, a transformative blueprint adopted in 2019 to modernize Nairobi’s aging estates and reshape Eastlands into a greener, better-connected and more dignified urban space.

Makongeni, built more than 60 years ago, has struggled under the pressure of Nairobi’s rapid population growth, outdated infrastructure, and persistent congestion. The regeneration project now underway aims to reverse decades of decay and deliver a modern, mixed-use neighbourhood designed for the next century.

The redevelopment began with what officials describe as one of the most comprehensive and humane relocation processes under the Affordable Housing Programme.

More than 4,600 verified households and business operators have already moved out after a months-long exercise involving detailed household enumeration, verification of tenancy and occupancy documents, multi-agency grievance resolution, tracing of vulnerable residents and door-to-door engagements and SMS updates.

Authorities say the relocation was voluntary and carefully sequenced to ensure no resident was left behind.

The government says the evacuation of the estate was urgent to avoid delays in handing the site to contractors and to help families settle before schools reopen in January.

Officials cite three key considerations including the difficulty of securing affordable rentals during the December festive period, residents’ agreement to relocate before holidays and the need to begin full construction early in 2026.

The cleared site will allow uninterrupted work on new homes, markets, roads, schools, and utility networks.

The redevelopment covers 139 acres acquired from the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme and is being implemented through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and the Affordable Housing Board.

The new Makongeni will feature:

• Mixed-Income Housing

More than 75 acres allocated to social, affordable, and affordable-market homes, with modern designs and climate-resilient features.

• A Walkable Urban Community

Homes, schools, health centres, parks, and markets will be within walking distance, aligned with global “15-minute city” planning standards.

• Education & Health Zone

A cluster comprising a modern health complex, ECD centres, primary and secondary schools, and a vocational training institute.

• Commercial & Business District

A new economic hub with retail streets, co-working spaces, and light industrial facilities designed to support thousands of jobs.

• Green and Public Spaces

More than 20 acres dedicated to parks, sports grounds, green corridors, and children’s play areas—one of the largest green investments in Eastlands.

• Modern Infrastructure

New roads, stormwater drainage, waste management systems, water supply lines, and solar installations aimed at future-proofing the estate for decades.

Residents to Return After Construction

The government says Makongeni’s regeneration is not a displacement exercise but a structured redevelopment programme that guarantees long-term residents the opportunity to return and purchase new units under the Affordable Housing scheme.

Officials describe the entire project as “a restoration of dignity, identity and community” for thousands of Nairobi households.

Makongeni now becomes the flagship site for the broader Eastlands Urban Renewal Masterplan, which seeks to rehabilitate aging estates, expand green spaces, modernize public infrastructure, and prepare Nairobi for a projected population of 20 million by 2053.

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