Karibu Homes owners in Athi River face eviction over cracks in Machakos apartment blocks

Homeowners at the Karibu Homes development in Athi River, Machakos County, are facing eviction after county authorities cited the developer over the condition of the apartment blocks, according to an enforcement notice sent by the county government.

The development comprises 500 residential units spread across 63 apartment blocks in phases one and two, and is now at the centre of a dispute between homeowners and the developer, with residents demanding accountability over the state of the buildings.

In blocks M, N and P, known as the London blocks, vertical cracks run along the expansion joints, stretching from the rooftop all the way to the ground floor. The cracks are visible both inside and outside the buildings, according to residents who have called Karibu Homes home for more than eight years.

The county's Department of Physical and Land Use Planning cites the developer for allowing occupation without acquiring a certificate of compliance, as well as developing and occupying substandard residential buildings that pose a danger to the public.

Kenneth Njukira, a homeowner, said assessments by five government agencies pointed to a structural defect and recommended retrofitting, adding that the reports indicate liability. Fellow resident Mary Rukwaro said the developer should be held accountable, while Samuel Kopi said he is still servicing an uncleared loan and does not know where to go. Families also fear the move will disrupt their children's education.

The developer's team has said it will carry out its own assessment, while residents want the retrofitting completed so they can return to their homes. As the eviction deadline draws closer, affected families face a choice between staying to demand answers or walking away from homes they have invested in for years.