Families Demand Refunds or Equivalent Compensation Over Controversial Kitengela Land Project
A growing group of land buyers is demanding answers from Havenfields Real Estate Ltd and its Managing Director, Paul Waihenya, over a controversial land project in Kimalat, Kitengela, that has left dozens of investors claiming they lost their savings after the plots they purchased allegedly became unavailable.
The dispute, which dates back several years, has reignited debate about due diligence, consumer protection, and accountability in Kenya’s booming real estate sector.
Affected buyers claim they invested hundreds of thousands of shillings in 50×100 plots marketed by Havenfields Real Estate Ltd, believing they were securing valuable property in the fast-growing Kitengela area.
According to the buyers, the company promised title deeds, future development, and secure ownership, making the project attractive to families, professionals, and small-scale investors seeking to build homes or secure long-term investments.
However, the investors allege that, years later, they discovered the land had become the subject of government acquisition proceedings and other ownership complications, leaving them unable to access the plots they had paid for.
Buyers Claim Warning Signs Were Ignored
Several affected investors now allege that concerns surrounding the land emerged long before many of the transactions were completed.
The buyers claim that despite emerging questions over the project’s future, sales continued, resulting in more investors purchasing plots that later became the center of disputes.
The allegations have fueled anger among affected families, many of whom say they invested life savings, retirement benefits, business proceeds, and loan facilities into the project.
Some claim they have spent years seeking answers from the company through meetings, correspondence, and negotiations.
Compensation Offer Sparks Fresh Outrage
One of the biggest sources of contention is an alternative compensation proposal reportedly presented to some affected buyers.
According to investors, they were offered alternative parcels of land in Malindi after the Kitengela project ran into difficulties.
However, the buyers argue that the proposed compensation does not match the value, location, or investment potential of the plots they originally purchased in Kitengela.
Some investors who reportedly visited the alternative sites claim the land is several kilometres from Malindi town and lacks key infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water connections.
“We were taken to a place that felt like punishment, not compensation,” one buyer said.
The affected families argue that they should either receive equivalent plots within Nairobi and its surrounding areas or be refunded the money they paid, together with compensation for the years they have waited.
Growing Pressure on Havenfields and Paul Waihenya
The controversy has increasingly spilled onto social media, where some investors have accused Havenfields Real Estate Ltd and its leadership of failing to adequately resolve the dispute.
Paul Waihenya, who is widely known through property investment content shared on social media platforms, has built a public profile by encouraging Kenyans to invest in land and real estate.
His videos frequently discuss wealth creation through property ownership and often encourage investors to consider land as a superior long-term investment.
However, the ongoing dispute has placed renewed scrutiny on both the company and its management as affected buyers intensify their campaign for compensation.
Havenfields Real Estate Victims Demand Action
The investors say they are now organizing collectively to pursue what they describe as fair compensation and accountability.
They claim to possess agreements, payment records, receipts, and correspondence relating to their transactions with the company.
The buyers insist they are not seeking special treatment but simply want the company to honour its obligations.
Their demands remain straightforward:
- Full refunds of monies paid, together with interest and compensation for losses suffered; or
- Alternative plots of equal or greater value within Nairobi or its immediate environs.
Wider Questions for Kenya’s Property Sector
The dispute has once again highlighted the risks facing land buyers in Kenya, where ownership disputes, compulsory acquisitions, overlapping titles, and delayed transfers continue to affect thousands of investors.
Property experts have consistently advised buyers to conduct thorough due diligence before purchasing land, including verification of ownership records, title status, zoning restrictions, and any pending government projects that may affect the property.
As pressure mounts, affected buyers say they will continue pursuing all available avenues to seek compensation and resolution.
Meanwhile, attention remains firmly focused on Havenfields Real Estate Ltd and its Managing Director, Paul Waihenya, as investors await a lasting solution to a dispute that has left many claiming their dreams of land ownership turned into years of uncertainty and frustration.
