Modern houses in Kenya. The government is planning to build at least 1 million units. [Photo/buildafrique.com]
The government has rolled out a Sh.2.6 trillion housing project aimed at delivering 1 million houses over the next five years.
The government will be partnering with County Governments in the Programme that will comprise constructing 200,000 social housing units and 800,000 low-cost affordable housing units to be funded by the Private Sector through various initiatives.
Kenya is urbanizing at a rate of 4.3%. This rapid growth is however not commensurate with infrastructural development, industrialization and growth in the manufacturing industry resulting in a number of challenges among them urban sprawl, increased poverty and growth of informal settlements.
To crown it, Kenya has an annual housing deficit of 200,000 housing units.
In efforts to close the deficit, the Government has embarked on an ambitious strategy of facilitating the delivery of 1 Million Affordable Housing Units over the next five years.
Housing Cabinet Secretary James Macharia urged County Governments to fast-track the approval process through the establishment of One Stop Approval Shops to tap into the opportunities provided by urbanization.