HINGA: There is remarkable progress made in Affordable Housing Programme

BY Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga

Introduction

There is remarkable progress made in the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This initiative, born from the commitment to provide decent, accessible housing to all Kenyans, has grown beyond our expectations and is transforming lives across our nation.

The programme is under full implementation. Currently, there are over 124,000 housing units at various stages of completion across the country.

These projects span 75 active sites in 37 counties, covering all the eight (8) regions of our nation. Our projects encompass affordable and social housing, institutional housing for our Kenya Defense Force, National Police Service, and Correctional Services.

There are projects to increase availability of student accommodation as well as a host of private sector-driven AHP projects. There are active pipeline with the potential to deliver over 730,000 homes over the next four years. This progress demonstrates our unwavering commitment to addressing the housing needs of our people.

In addition to housing, there is implementation of markets programme across the country under the AHP. We are committed to delivering 400 markets over the medium term.

Currently, there are 192 markets in various stages of development, including 147 Economic Stimulus Program markets, 30 markets under the Slum Upgrading program, and 15 modern markets. These markets will provide modern facilities for our tradespeople, including secure grounds, creches, cold rooms, storage facilities, and ICT facilities.

Here in Kwale County, there is a significant stride as well. The Matuga Affordable Housing Project will provide 195 units upon completion, creating employment for an average of 200 workers per day. Additionally, the Diani White House project for 152 units has been awarded, which will also provide employment for 200 workers daily.

Central to the success has been the Boma Yangu platform, which has been instrumental in demonstrating the interest of hard-working Kenyans in homeownership and making this dream accessible to all. Over 547,000 Kenyans have registered on the platform and have made contributions towards deposits for their homes bringing the total savings on the Boma Yangu platform to Sh2.3 billion.

This month alone, based on the progress of various projects across the country, we have seen savings of Sh7 million by those registered on the platform. More importantly, 51,862 of these registrants are active savers, eagerly waiting for house allocation.

Additionally, we have another 495,781 applicants currently in the registration queue, showing the immense interest and hope this program has generated among our people.

Behind these numbers are real stories of hope and transformation. Let me share with you some inspiring examples of Kenyans whose lives are being changed by the AHP:

Kariu from Ruiru, Kiambu County, began saving on Boma Yangu in August 2019 with an initial deposit of Sh1,000. By June 2021, three years after his first contribution, he had saved enough to reach the 12.5 per cent deposit milestone (Sh206,250) for a one-bedroom unit in Starehe, which was then required (now 10 per cent).

Despite hitting this target, Kariu continued saving consistently, growing his contributions towards home ownership. After six years of disciplined saving, his total stands at Sh895,000, more than half of the full cost.

His hope is to fully pay off the house before the official allocation, allowing him to leave it as a legacy for his family.

Kariu’s story demonstrates how consistent savings from farm earnings, can be accumulated to an amount with more than half the cost of his future home. Indeed, his is a testament to the power of perseverance and the opportunities our program provides.

Then there's Jemimah Nyaboke Rachami, a 47-year-old businesswoman from Starehe, Nairobi County, living with a disability.

Jemimah runs Jerich Handcraft, a business that specialises in carvings, curios, and the supply of stationery to government offices. Thanks to her business success, she has managed to surpass the required 10 per cent deposit for a house.

To date, she has saved Sh650,000 through her handcraft business. Her determination brings her closer to owning a home, a dream she's harbored for years. Jemimah hopes to continue building her savings and fully pay for the house, securing a stable future for herself and her family.

In Nakuru, we have Jane Mumbi Muchina, a 48-year-old widow and mother of two, who will be moving from a Sh1,500 rental to owning a one-bedroom house. Similarly, David Muchiri Gakiri, a 44-year-old father of four and a Jua Kali artisan, will also be a proud owner of a one-bedroom house.

Truly, these stories are representative of thousands more across our nation, showing how the AHP is making homeownership a reality for Kenyans from all walks of life.

Today, there is a thrilled to announce a major milestone in our AHP journey. In December 2024, we will be handing over 1,080 completed studio units at the Mukuru Meteorological site in Nairobi.

These units, costing Sh840,000 each, will be allocated through the Boma Yangu Platform. New homeowners will pay just Sh3,200 per month for 30 years, making homeownership truly affordable for our hardworking citizens.

As we celebrate these achievements, let us be reminded that our commitment to deliver 200,000 housing units per year will allow us to not only provide decent and adequate housing, but also create integrated and sustainable communities whilst generating employment, and empowering our MSMEs.

Indeed, the impact of the AHP extends far beyond housing. Nationwide, it has created over 160,000 jobs across the housing economic value chain. We're proud that over 20 per cent of these workers are women, and we're working to improve this to 30 per cent.

Our commitment to empowering local businesses is evident in our engagement with the Jua Kali sector. In Kwale alone, we've engaged over 200 Jua Kali artisans to supply ring-fenced items for our projects.

These include the Kawili Jua Kali, Mwavuli Jua Kali, and Kwale Township Jua Kali Associations, who are supplying wooden doors, steel fabricated doors and windows, balustrading, and kitchen cabinetry.

Across the country, we've ringfenced Sh4.4 billion for MSME and Jua Kali clusters to produce goods and services for our housing projects. In Kibra, the Soweto Highrise Fabricators & Woodworkers Association, along with the Jua Kali Contractors National Umbrella Organisation, has secured a sub-contract worth Sh720 million. This is a clear demonstration of how the AHP is not just building houses, but also building businesses and livelihoods.

We're also seeing success stories in other counties. In Ruiru, Kiambu County, the Ruiru Bypass Jua Kali Association, with over 200 members, is supplying the Ruiru Affordable Housing Project with over Sh100 Million worth of ring-fenced items. They've even received working capital from HFC Bank to support their efforts.

Furthermore, we're investing in our workforce's skills and recognition. Over 1,200 artisans from more than 12 AHP sites have been assessed and certified for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

This groundbreaking initiative, piloted for the first time at the Kibra and Ruiru AHP sites, provides formal certification for the significant skills and experience these artisans have gained informally.

To address the needs of Kenyans in informal settlements, we're implementing various projects including the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP) and the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Program (KISIP). These programs aim to strengthen urban institutions and support infrastructure improvement in 77 municipalities and two refugee-hosting municipalities.

Here in Kwale, we're investing over Sh230 million in the Kombani Settlement to develop high masts and physical infrastructure, including a new bitumen road.

We're also undertaking land tenure regularization in Jeza A and Taru Settlements of Msambweni and Kinango Constituencies, providing Kenyans with titles that will contribute to their financial security and wealth generation.

The Affordable Housing Programme is more than just about providing shelter. It's about dignity, security, and creating opportunities for all Kenyans. Together, we are building a nation where every Kenyan can have a place to call home.

These early successes are intended to be demonstrative and catalytic.

It is my continued hope that there will be increased support from the private sector to adopt our model of affordable home delivery and that together we will multiply our ability to realise the transformation required to house all Kenyans affordably, now and in the future.

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