EALA MPs push for affordable housing solutions in Buxton tour

East Africa Community member states have been urged to work together to address housing deficit the region is grappling with.

East African Legislative Assembly Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment said governments should work with private investors to address the challenge.

The committee, chaired by Kenya's representative Suleiman Shahbal, toured the Sh6.5 billion Buxton Point affordable housing programme on Tuesday.

“Such kinds of housing projects showcase what can be done by the private sector working with the government,” said Deng Gai, a committee member from South Sudan.

She said the affordable housing project in Kenya is revolutionary and can be implemented in other EALA member states.

“This [Buxton Point] project is not just a question of where you live but also about what you are doing with your life in terms of leisure activities," Gai said.

“It is something we would wish to see happening in other states."

Africa continues to face a housing deficit, especially in urban areas, as rural-urban migration continues to grow.

Kenya, for instance, has a housing deficit of about two million, with the figure growing at an approximate rate of 200,000 units a year.

In Uganda, the deficit stands at 1.7 million, in South Sudan (four million), Tanzania (three million) and Rwanda (721,000).

“We have a housing deficit all over the region and our governments have not been investing money in housing. If a partnership between the government and the private sector can help solve the issue, then it is very good," said James Kakooza committee member from Uganda.

He said the project can be spilled over to partner states.

James Kinyasi from Tanzania said the project has rekindled faith that governments should have in their local investors.

“We have for a long time put trust in foreign investors, but Kenya is defying that through what we are seeing here today," he said.

“You [Kenya] have brought back respect for our local investors. I urge all member states to start them,” said Kinyasi.

Phase 1 of the Buxton project delivered 512 units. Phase 2, which is underway, is expected to deliver 1,000 units.

Shahbal said the second phase is expected to move faster because of technology.

The Affordable Housing Programme and Markets is expected to build 250,000 housing units across the country by the end of the year.

At the coast, about 100,000 housing units will be built.

In Mombasa's 50,000 units, Mzizima will deliver 2,000 units, VOK in Nyali (2,850 units) and  the Changamwe National Housing Corporation project, which sits on a 58-acre plot will deliver 20,000 units.