Buxton Point workers clash with Mombasa officials over site closure order
Stones flew at the Buxton Point affordable housing site in Mombasa on Wednesday when a county official arrived to shut it down. Former Buxton estate tenants want their 184 promised units first, but the developer says it has followed the agreement.
Mombasa County Lands Executive Hussein "Amadow" Mohamed arrived at Buxton Point on Wednesday morning with a closure order for the site. According to The Star, he said work should stop until the parties agree on how the former Buxton estate tenants will get their 184 units. Former tenants and several other people came with him. Casual workers at the site asked what would happen to them, since they are paid by the day. The Star reported that Amadow promised them three days' wages and told them to go home. The workers refused to leave until they were paid in cash on the spot. Stones were thrown, and Amadow and his county inspectorate team fled. Citizen Digital reported that the workers hurled stones and wielded wooden bars to drive the officials away. Police stepped in to restore order as the chaos spread beyond the site. Speaking to the press later, Amadow said the clash had been planned. "They can misuse people's children; they can arm them with machetes and rungus so that they can hit government officials, but I will not be intimidated," he said. He added that he would follow the law, "whether you are a billionaire or not." GulfCap Real Estate CEO Chris Ochieng told The Star that the order to close the Phase 2 construction site was unlawful. He said Amadow had cited a lack of building approvals. The company, he said, showed him approvals issued by his…
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