The county government of Nairobi has kick started the implementation of a programme that seeks to improve the city's housing sector.

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Governor Evans Kidero said the county government intends to build at least 14,000 housing units in the city's informal settlements.

Phase one of the programme dubbed 'Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme' is already underway and the county chief on Friday handed over new modern but affordable housing units to residents of Soweto in Kibera.

"Nairobi City County government pledges to make more land available for the construction of houses in Nairobi in line with the realisation of Kenya’s national housing policy, poverty reduction strategy policies, Kenya Vision 2030 and the global millennium development goals specifically goal number seven which targets improving the lives of 100 million informal settlement dwellers by the year 2020," Dr Kidero said.

"Nairobi County government's Urban Renewal Programme will greatly ensure more homes are availed at affordable prices as well as improve the social and physical infrastructure services."

The second phase will be rolled out in the city's East Lands slums.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Kenya's urban areas, annually, face a shortage of about 200,000 housing units as only 50,000 of such are built every year.

The ministry says approximately 100,000 Kenyans living in rural areas migrate to Nairobi every year in search of employment, overstretching the already strained housing industry.