The first batch of affordable housing units will be handed over to Kenyans by September of this year. That was the statement from Housing PS Charles Hinga in Naivasha when he visited Nakuru county. The PS said that despite the challenges that the program has faced, the state is on track to deliver to the first home owners under the program, the housing units in September.
The PS recently declared on Twitter that the government’s affordable housing registration portal bomayangu.go.ke, had crossed over 200,000 applicants, a proof of the demand for the units. The PS was addressing a section of Kenyans who have been skeptical of the program’s viability, saying Kenyans did not want the houses.
Although the PS did not specify the number of units and locations in the first batch, he said some will be in Nakuru and Naivasha. PS Hinga also expressed appreciation at the fact that local land owners were willing to partner with the government by providing land under the program, land owners have already offered more than 9,900 acres in less than two months.
“We have investors who are keen to invest in this affordable housing programme and so far we have received 17 construction technologies for consideration. This project is mostly driven by the private sector and the court cases had a negative effect but we are addressing this” he said.
Although the affordable housing fund, meant to support the program has been the target of court cases, the PS, speaking at the EAPI Summit last week, said the fund was designed 52-years ago but remained on paper. He said the government was simply effecting its operationalization.
The PS also said during the real estate summit that the ministry has completed new spatial plans for Eastlands, that will direct development in 546 ha of land including 14 old estates. He said the plan aims at densification, which involves putting up more units in lower density areas, with an aim of achieving 42,000 units of formal housing.
The plans include a housing scheme in Mavoko and Railway City, even though full implementation is expected to take more than five years.
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