Affordable Housing Programme in Kenya: Policy Guidelines and Milestones

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of policy interventions and milestones by the Government of Kenya with regards to the Affordable Housing programme targeting civil servants, members of the Kenya Police Service and Kenyan Citizens. The programme was initiated by the Government to supply 500,000 homes over a period of 5 years in line with the Government’s Big Four Agenda, Kenya Vision 2030 and Kenya Constitution 2010. The paper presents a Financing Framework through which Citizens could eventually buy or rent a home cheaply. A highlight of the housing gap in Kenya is presented as well as the residential housing affordability challenges faced by most Kenyan Citizens. The paper highlights the eligibility criteria for affordable housing (through the Bomayangu online platform), the financing framework (for raising capital to buy a home) as well as partnerships between the Government of Kenya and other external stakeholders such as governments and private companies. Through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Kenya Government has initiated several affordable housing projects in Nairobi and Kisumu Cities as well as Embu and Machakos Towns. In addition, slum upgrading programmes are on course in Kibera slums, Nairobi as well as other parts of Kenya. Lastly, the paper highlights the contribution to various stakeholders as well as housing finance theory where limited literature exists on such government initiated programmes.