Chaos as Buxton Point Workers Clash with Mombasa Officials Over Closure Order

MOMBASA, KENYA -Tensions escalated into chaos at the Buxton Point housing project in Mombasa on Wednesday after construction workers clashed with county government officials who visited the site to enforce an order suspending construction activities.

The confrontation occurred when a team led by Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Urban Planning and Housing, Mohammed Hussein, arrived at the development to implement the county's closure directive.

According to reports, some workers opposed the move, arguing that shutting down construction would threaten their jobs and livelihoods. The situation reportedly turned violent, with individuals throwing stones and wielding wooden bars as they confronted the county officials.

Police officers intervened to restore order, with reports indicating that warning shots were fired into the air to disperse the agitated crowd.

The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing disagreement between Mombasa County and GulfCAP Real Estate, the developer behind the multi-billion-shilling affordable housing project.

Why Mombasa County Ordered the Closure

The confrontation follows a suspension directive issued on November 10, 2026, by the Mombasa County Government, halting construction activities at Buxton Point.

County officials cited unresolved contractual obligations, planning approval concerns and outstanding commitments to former residents who were displaced to pave the way for the redevelopment.

A notice issued by the County Director of Physical Planning, Qassim Ali, directed the developer to stop further construction activities and obtain the necessary approvals.

The county also raised concerns about the implementation of its agreed 10 per cent share of the housing units and commercial spaces under the joint venture agreement.

According to the county, its entitlement translates to approximately 180 apartments from the development's planned 1,800 housing units.

Former Residents Demand Their Share

The dispute has also brought renewed attention to more than 400 former residents of Buxton Estate who were relocated during the redevelopment process.

Some former tenants have accused the developer and county government of failing to honour previous arrangements concerning their return and access to housing.

The residents say they were initially led to believe that they would return to the estate within a year, but approximately seven years later, many are still waiting for a lasting solution.

Former tenants have questioned the resettlement arrangements and called for the suspension of construction until their concerns are addressed.

Their grievances include the allocation of housing units, outstanding relocation arrangements and the implementation of commitments made before the redevelopment began.

County Raises Questions Over Community Facilities

Beyond housing allocations, Mombasa County has raised concerns about the reconstruction and handover of an Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centre and a community social centre that were part of the project's commitments.

Lands CECM Mohammed Hussein has maintained that the county has not received the facilities or its agreed share of the development.

The county says it has repeatedly written to the developer seeking clarification and compliance with the terms of the joint venture agreement.

It has also questioned whether GulfCAP has fulfilled other requirements, including performance security, development fees and outstanding planning documentation.

GulfCAP Rejects Claims of Political Interference

GulfCAP Real Estate Chief Executive Officer Chris Ochieng has defended the company's handling of the project, urging Mombasa County to keep politics out of the development.

Ochieng maintains that the county is entitled to its 10 per cent share but argues that the units should be handed over upon completion of the project, in accordance with the contractual arrangements.

On the ECDE centre, he says the facility has already been constructed and is being used by the project team, with a formal handover expected in December.

The CEO has also maintained that former Buxton residents were tenants of the county government and that GulfCAP provided KSh240,000 to each affected household as goodwill relocation assistance.

He warned that continued disruption could affect hundreds of workers and delay the handover of 492 residential units expected by prospective homeowners.

GulfCAP has maintained its commitment to completing the development and fulfilling its contractual obligations.

A KSh6 Billion Project Facing Uncertainty

Buxton Point is one of Mombasa's major urban housing redevelopment projects, involving an investment estimated at KSh6 billion.

The first phase delivered 584 housing units in 2023, while the second phase is expected to provide approximately 1,400 to 1,500 additional apartments alongside commercial and community facilities.

The project is intended to contribute to affordable housing, urban renewal and improved living conditions in Mombasa.

However, the latest confrontation raises concerns about construction timelines, employment opportunities, investor confidence and the welfare of families awaiting their homes.

What Happens Next?

With the county insisting on compliance and GulfCAP defending its contractual position, the dispute now presents a major test for public-private partnerships in Kenya's housing sector.

The immediate priority will be finding a peaceful resolution that protects workers, addresses the concerns of former residents and ensures that contractual obligations between the developer and county government are fulfilled.

For now, uncertainty surrounds the future of construction at Buxton Point as residents, prospective homeowners and workers await further developments.