The Kenyan government has embarked on the largest public housing project in the history of the country. According to a document from sources within the project team, the program will be implemented in five phases or lots over the next five years, each lot planned to begin in the successive year. Lot 1 which is set to begin in the financial year 2017/2018, will focus on delivering a total of 167,640 units including 67,800 units in Nairobi County.
Lot 1 is further grouped into four phases. Lot 1A will consist of flagship projects, meant to build momentum for the program and will deliver 36,840 units in six locations namely Park Road, Makongeni, Mavoko, Shauri Moyo, Starehe and Muguga Greens. Park Road is set to break ground in July. Lot 1B projects are intended to improve informal settlements and slum upgrading in areas like Kibera, Kiambiu and Mariguini as well as transitional housing. These projects are expected to deliver a total of 15,000 units.
Lot 1C projects which are intended to deliver 48,000 units in 22 counties. The National government has already signed MoUs with eight counties will negotiations with the remaining 14 counties are at an advanced stage to ensure that development of infrastructure on the land that will be made available for housing development.
Signed counties have already identified land and awaiting master planning. These include Kiambu, Nyandarua, Homa Bay, Meru, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot. Each county will be required to produce 2000 units per year.
Finally, Lot 1D projects will be based in Nairobi County using county government land primarily for redevelopment of county estates. This phase is expected to produce 67,800 units in locations like Bahati, Jericho, Maringo, Ziwani, Bondeni and others.
To enhance affordability, the program has defined four levels of housing types based on income classifications. The first category is the middle to high income group with an income range of KES 100,000 and above.
The second category refers to those in the mortgage gap, with an income range of between KES 50,000 and KES 99,999 while the third category will cover low-cost houses for people with an income range of KES 15,000 and KES 49,999.
Fourthly, there will be social housing for lower-income groups with an income range of between 0 and KES 14,999. Of the four categories, the focus of the program however will be on the last three segments.
In the plan, a two bedroom unit with a gross floor area of 40sqm will go for KES 2 million while a three-bedroom apartment with a gross floor area of 60sqm will go for KES 3 million.
The structures will make use of low-cost, pre-cast technology and modular layouts and most of the projects will be PPPs where the government only provides land and infrastructure.
According to sources attached to the programme’s preliminary development framework, the developments will have features such as smart technology for waste management, parking, and water billing, controlled access and perimeter security, and at least 5-15% open spaces and footpaths.
