State to build over 105,000 affordable housing units in Central

The government plans to build more than 105,000 housing units in six counties in Central Kenya.

Affordable housing Central director Albert Gakuru said the construction of the said the units will be completed before the end of President Ruto's first term.

“The project is meant to ensure Kenyans have decent houses and also create job opportunities,” he said.

Kiambu will have the biggest share of more than 70,000 housing units, followed by Nyeri and Murang’a which will have 10,000 units each.

Kirinyaga, Laikipia and Nyandarua will have 5,000 units each.

“The demand for houses increases every year due to the growing population hence the construction of the many units,” Gakuru said.

A report by the Kenya Bureau of Standards said Kenya has a deficit of more 250,000 houses every year.

Gakuru spoke on Wednesday during a public participation on the draft affordable housing regulations, 2024 at the NG-CDF hall in Kerugoya town Kirinyaga county.

He said the new housing regulation paves way for partnership between the government and low income earners in the rural areas.

It allows parties to agree on how to amortize the money.

Residents urged the government to spend the housing levy prudently.

They also asked the state to reduce the 10 per cent deposit on the houses to make them affordable.

Other recommendations included ensuring those in dire need of shelter are prioritised and more sensitisation forums conducted at the grassroots.

Benson Muthike, a resident from Kirinyaga East, said the taxes requirement for beneficiaries might lock out the poor.

“The president is on record saying the houses will benefit the low income earners but the tax payment proof will disadvantage casual labourers, who earn peanuts and badly need the houses,” he said.

“This means only those who earn monthly incomes are likely to own the houses leaving out more than 80 per cent of the hustlers.”

Michael Gichobi accused leaders of involving the common mwananchi in the housing project hence the opposition from the public.

He said people who need the houses are mostly those in the slums and the the meetings should have been taken to them.

Peter Kariuki, a resident from Kirinyaga central, said the criteria that will be used to give the youth jobs during the project will be transparent.

“Do they have a transparent criteria of giving out the jobs so that there will be no corruption? " he asked.

Some asked the government to rent out the houses instead of selling them.

Gakuru said all the concerns raised by the residents will be factored in during the preparation of the final report.