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State keen to expand capacity of National Housing Corporation – Koskei

Public Service chief says state will adopt partnerships to tap in additional resources

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by Allan Kisia

News27 May 2024 - 10:39
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In Summary


  • Koskei said the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to ensuring delivery of high-quality services to Kenyans.
  • Of the one million affordable housing units the Government plans to build by the end of the financial year 2027/2028, the NHC plans to build more than 100,000 units.
National Housing Corporation board Chair Yusuf Chanzu, Chief of Staff Felix Koskei and Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development CS Alice Wahome during celebrations to mark the corporation's 70th anniversary at Bomas of Kenya on May 27, 2024.

The government has committed to expanding the capacity of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the government adopted public-private partnerships to tap into additional resources and expertise.

“We are also reviewing and updating policies to create a more conducive environment for housing development. We aim to ensure that every citizen has access to safe, affordable, and decent housing,” he said.

He further said that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to Kenyans.

“Service delivery is the cornerstone of public trust and confidence in government institutions. We have implemented several reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness in our service delivery mechanisms,” he said.

Koskei made the remarks at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi during celebrations to commemorate NHC's 70th anniversary.

During the celebrations, NHC unveiled a new logo and a new five-year strategic plan.

Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Alice Wahome, other government officials, corporate leaders, and key partners in the construction industry graced the occasion.

Wahome congratulated the NHC for its role in providing housing for Kenyans for the last 70 years.

“For 70 years, the National Housing Corporation has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of housing in Kenya. From providing housing solutions to fostering sustainable urban development, the corporation has been a beacon of hope for countless Kenyans aspiring to own decent homes,” she said.

She added that through the rebranding initiative, the corporation seeks to modernise its operations, enhance its service delivery, and build stronger partnerships with stakeholders across public and private sectors.

Of the one million affordable housing units the government plans to build by the end of the financial year 2027-28, the NHC plans to build more than 100,000 units.

“The government plans to construct one million housing units by the end of the financial year 2027-28. Of this, the corporation will construct 110,000 housing units: 100,000 units under the Affordable Housing Programme, 5,000 units under the commercial band, and a further 5,000 as student hostel rooms,” CS Wahome said.

NHC managing director and CEO, QS David Mathu said that the corporation is committed to helping the government achieve 250,000 housing units per year under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda.

“We are actively involved in affordable housing projects in four counties: Nyandarua, Embu, Kirinyaga, and Homa Bay. The corporation has also broken ground in Meru, Nakuru, Kericho, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Mombasa, Kisumu, Machakos, and Taita,” he said.

He said the corporation is moving to recover grabbed land, which he blamed for the hitches in the delivery of the housing agenda.

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