Mombasa-based real estate developer Mwenda Thuranira has asked the county's government to privatise the management of its estates for higher returns.

The homebuilder said a public-private partnership would ensure county-owned residential estates are property managed to boost revenue generation.

Some of the estates have become deplorable due to lack of maintenance for as long as since 1980s, while rent collection is a problem in others.

"The county government should leave the burden to private estate managers who can take good care of these houses, some of which sit on prime land," he said.

"The reason why tenants in these houses pay minimal rents is because of the condition of these houses."

Estates with proximity to town fetch higher rents but those of the county government cost as little as Sh5,000 for a three-bedroom house owing to their condition.

The county government owns estates such as Buxton which has been auctioned by Family Bank over debts, and Likoni and Tudor, among others.

Mombasa governor Hassan Joho however insists that the county will restore the estates and recover those auctioned.