The Government of Kenya set a goal of delivering housing on ownership terms for citizens, aiming to increase the number of mortgages from 30,000 to 1,000,000 under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).

President William Ruto launched this initiative to create a new generation of homeowners with favorable ownership terms, including monthly payments as low as Ksh5,000.

The programme, which started after President Ruto took office in September 2022, aims to construct 250,000 houses yearly to bridge the annual housing gap and alleviate the burden on low-income earners.

The initiative targets over 6.5 million Kenyans living in slums and informal settlements.

It also aims to transform the lives of Kenyans at the bottom of the economic pyramid by creating jobs, providing decent housing, and reducing agricultural land fragmentation.

To achieve this goal, the government introduced a housing levy designed to provide stable and affordable financing for the projects.

President Ruto signed the Affordable Housing Bill into law on March 19, establishing a framework for collecting the housing levy and implementing the Affordable Housing Programme.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been responsible for collecting this contribution, which it deducts monthly from employees’ pay slips.

According to the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, KRA has collected Ksh42.5 billion from the levy.

The ministry has provided a detailed explanation of how the collected levy has been used to advance the Affordable Housing Projects across the country.

Completed Houses

The government has completed and delivered 1,189 affordable homes since the project began.

This includes 584 units in Buxton Phase One and 605 units in the Nakuru Bondeni Affordable Housing project.

Ongoing Projects

Currently, 8,872 units from the 2018 to 2022 cycle are under construction. This includes 1,562 units in Pangani Affordable, 1,800 in Bachelors Jeevanjee Estate, 1,850 in Buxton Point Phase, and 4,118 in Make Gardens.

Additionally, 19,965 ongoing affordable housing projects will be launched soon in 38 locations across the country.

Among these projects are the Proposed Isiolo Town AHP (220 units), Proposed Vet Farm Estate AHP (200 units), 220 Units in Proposed Elburgon (adjacent to St. Clare Girls Secondary School), and Proposed Ol Kalou AHP (420 units).

Other projects include Proposed Government Estate -Wajir East AHP (220 units), Shauri Moyo B Affordable Housing Project (4,556 units), Makongeni Affordable Housing (34,355 units), Kikuyu Kabete AHP (1,404 units), Ruring’u AHP Nyeri (500 units), Matuga AHP Kwale (172 units), and NHC Changamwe (100 units).

Also Read: Govt Declares Eligibility for Kenyans to Enjoy Affordable Houses

Soon-To-Be Launched AHP

Additional upcoming projects are in Karagita AHP Project (320 units), Kaptumo AHP Project (191 units), Kajiado Central AHP Project (196 units), Kilgoris AHP Project (141 units), and Rongo AHP Project (191 units).

The Busia-Funyula AHP Project includes 880 units, Alego Usonga AHP Project has 882 units, Lumumba AHP Project Kisumu features 2,348 units, and Archer’s Post AHP project includes 160 units.

The government will also soon launch AHP projects in Maralal AHP Project (110 units), Saku AHP Project Marsabit (160 units), Garissa AHP Project (406 units), Mokowe AHP Project (496 units), Diani AHP Project (191 units), and Kimumu AMS AHP Project (241 units).

Other soon-to-be-launched houses are in Iten AHP Project (269 units), Nyanchwa AHP Project Kisii (233 units), Wote Pool Housing AHP Project (734 units), Kwa Ngendu AHP Project Kitui (170 units), Limuru AHP Project (738 units), Kehancha AHP Project Migori (264 units), Marigat AHP Project Baringo (267 units), Voi Pool AHP Project (439 units), Thika Depot AHP Project (436 units), Ogembo AHP Project (245 units), Nyaribari Masaba AHP Project (249 units), and Thika Bustani AHP Project (996 units).

Launched Affordable Housing Projects

Since September 2022, President Ruto has launched 41,641 affordable housing units across 28 sites in different parts of the country.

The launched projects include 13,076 units in Mukuru Met Site Social Housing, 4,054 units in Kibera Soweto B Social Housing, 5,360 units in Mavoko Affordable Housing, 4,500 units in Starehe Affordable Housing, 1,848 units in Shauri Moyo A Affordable Housing Project, and 1,050 units in Ruiru Affordable Housing Project.

Additionally, 2,000 units have been launched in Homa Bay Affordable Housing (NHC), 400 units in Embu NHC Affordable Housing, and 975 units in Thika Affordable Housing Project.

Also Read: Kenyans to Pay Ksh200 to Activate Affordable Housing Account

Other launched projects include 110 units in Gichugu Affordable Housing Project, 220 units in Bahati Affordable Housing Project Milimani, Vihiga Housing Estate AHP (220 units), Mabera AHP (60 units), Mzizima Estate (Mombasa County AHP, 1,582 units) and Kidiwa-Kapsuswa AHP (220 units).

AHP Houses have also been launched in Pioneer AHP (2,261 units), Emgwen Affordable Housing Project (220 units), Ol Kalou (NHC) Affordable Housing Project (2,400 units), Timau Buuri Affordable Housing Project (392 units), Meru HG 16 Affordable Housing Project (94 units) and Meru HG 20 Affordable Housing Project (220 units).

Other projects have been launched in Kanduyi AHP (374 units), Makenji AHP Murang’a (220 units), Nanyuki Town AHP (200 units), Blue Valley AHP Nyeri (360 units), Nyangores Chepalungu AHP (200 units), and Kericho Talai AHP Project (322 units).

Houses Supported by Private Sector

There are also 6,813 AHP units supported by the private sector in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kajiado, and Kilifi.

Almond Estate Company has sponsored the construction of 239 units in Almond Kiserian Homes in Kajiado, while Fairdeal Properties has built 580 units in Bamburi Sunspot Apartments in Mombasa.

The company has also supported 580 AHP units in Machakos while Blackstone Investment LTD contributed to the construction of 1,500 units at Seven Star Apartments in Kilifi.

In Nairobi, Ebony Creek Properties supported 574 units at Ebony Creek, Willow Creek Properties contributed to 420 houses at Willow Creek, Magnolia Creek Properties was involved in 994 AHP units at Magnolia Creek, Ashvale Properties LLP supported 1,252 youth housing units at Chiromo Qejani, and Spruce Properties LLP built 654 houses at Qwetu & Qejani Student Housing.

Police Housing, KDF, and Student Housing

In addition to civilian houses, the government has constructed 2,496 AHP units for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), police officers, and students.

Some 24,360 houses for KDF and institutional housing are also under negotiation. There are 181 parcels of land totaling over 1,762 acres.

The government has 27 responsive bids, 12 bids under negotiation with investors, and four projects signed with investors.

200 Units per Constituency Program

The Kenya Kwanza administration has also identified over 223 priority sites with over 2,000 acres for the 200 Units per Constituency Program.

Under this initiative, there are currently 15 projects ongoing and 46 projects under advertisement.

Additionally, 162 projects with the potential for at least 52,000 homes are in the planning stages.

Market Development Program

Markets are a key promise in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, and the government has embarked on developing 400 markets across the country to enhance traders’ work environments and boost local economic recovery.

This ambition aligns with the Kenya Vision 2030, which recognizes the market sector as a crucial pillar for achieving the country’s long-term development strategy.

There are 30 markets under implementation, ten classroom blocks at Limuko Primary School, and four markets under preparation for launch.

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