NHC Managing Director and CEO David Mathu, Cabinet Secretary
for Lands Alice Wahome and NHC Board Chairman Yusuf Chanzu at an investor
conference on Public-Private Partnership on March 5, 2025.The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has announced plans to develop at least 2,820 affordable housing units under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The project will be implemented on 23 acres of land owned by
NHC at Stoni Athi Water Front City in Machakos County.
Speaking at an investor conference organised by NHC at the Boma Inn Hotel Nairobi to engage potential investors, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, Alice Wahome, highlighted the country's acute housing deficit of approximately 200,000 units annually.
She noted that this demand continues to grow due to rapid population growth and urbanisation.
“To address this housing gap, the Government of Kenya introduced the National Housing Policy in 2016 to attract private investments in the affordable housing sector. Additionally, the Affordable Housing Programme, launched in 2017, aims to deliver at least 200,000 affordable housing units annually across the country,” Wahome stated.
According to statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and captured in NHC’s five-year Strategic Plan (2023-2027), Kenya’s population is projected to rise from 50.8 million in 2022 to 55.8 million by 2028.
Additionally, Kenya’s labour force aged between 15 and 64 is expected to increase from 30.4 million in 2022 to 35.1 million by 2028, further intensifying the demand for affordable housing.
Wahome reaffirmed that the Affordable Housing Programme not only remains a key priority for the government under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) but also an important component of the social pillar of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
NHC seeks to address the shortage of affordable and market-rate housing in Kenya, leveraging private sector expertise and capital to deliver quality and sustainable housing.
This private sector collaboration mechanism is emphasised in the Corporation’s Strategic Plan.
NHC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, David Mathu, noted that the project will consist of both affordable housing units and market-rate residential units, supported by the necessary infrastructure.
The housing typologies will follow a structured ratio of 25:50:25 for one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units, respectively.
“Under the terms of the Project Agreement, the selected contractor will be responsible for designing, financing, developing, and constructing the housing units. Additionally, the contractor will market the units and hand over the NHC-designated affordable housing units upon completion,” said Mathu.
“Additionally, we are looking at employing environmentally friendly designs to drive sustainability and green housing.”.
Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and NHC Board Chairman Yusuf Chanzu graced the event.
