As the Kenya Kwanza Government marks its 3rd anniversary since taking over the leadership mantle, the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) remains one of the key achievements realised under the Bottom-Up Transformational Economic Agenda (BETA).
“Through this program, we have revitalized local area economies through jobs created in the communities where projects are located. These projects have also impacted supply chains in local areas in a big way – from those providing stones for building, kokoto (Ballast), sand, cement, and even food for workers while onsite,” notes Hon. Alice Wahome, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development.
Currently, there are over 195,578 housing units under development across 111 constituencies in 44 out of the 47 counties. To ensure equal chance for all Kenyans to own a home, new Affordable Housing and Institutional Housing Projects will soon be launched in Marsabit, Turkana and West Pokot counties once the implementation planning is complete.
Since 2022, the AHP projects have provided 330,000 direct and indirect jobs where KES 11 Billion has been ringfenced for the Jua Kali and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the Affordable Housing and Markets Programmes.
“We are on course to achieve a goal of 2 jobs per unit – one directly onsite and one indirectly in the wider economy,” explains Mr. Charles Hinga, Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
“We will ringfence the assembly and manufacturing of key components for our mechanical, electrical, and plumbing sectors,” he added.
The sale of the units started in November 2024 when the government announced the release of 4,888 housing units in 24 project sites across the country.
Every Kenyan interested in purchasing a unit has a chance to do so under Pata Makao na Boma Yangu by registering on the Boma Yangu Platform www.bomayangu.go.ke. Once registered, one activates their account by paying KES 200 and starts saving towards raising a 5 percent deposit of the total cost of the housing unit.
Under the Institutional Housing for security service personnel, there are 12,709 ongoing and complete housing units. The government has also proposed the construction of institutional housing for student villages, targeting 177,686 student housing beds. The proposed projects, advertised mid this year are intended to meet the housing needs for students in public tertiary and university institutions across the country.
The Government has also embarked on efforts to develop 400 markets across the country to dignify the work environment of traders while boosting economic recovery at the local level.
Under the National Markets Development Programme, there are 237 Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) Markets and 39 Modern Markets at various stages of implementation in 212 constituencies across the country.
21 Metropolitan Markets are expected to be delivered under the Metropolitan Development Delivery.
Through the Affordable Housing Program, the Government has revitalized local area economies through jobs created where the AHP projects are located and also in the new market sites that provide a conducive environment for all to operate in.
