NAIROBI, Kenya – Slum residents from around Nairobi City County have supported the government’s ongoing implementation of the Affordable Housing Program.
This game-changing programme aims to create a new generation of homeowners and significantly improve the living conditions of economically disadvantaged Kenyans.
Under the Affordable Housing Programme, the government creates a new generation of homeowners by constructing 250,000 houses yearly for low-income earners.
President William Ruto has already commissioned 17,850 units in Mukuru, Rongai, and Kibera to ease the housing burden on low-income earners.
Construction of another 28,942 units is ongoing countrywide.
The Affordable Housing Programme targets the over 6.5 million Kenyans living in slums and informal settlements.
The 14 informal settlement members who spoke with Y News exclusively described the initiative as a solution to their continuing problems.
According to the residents of the 14 informal settlements in the county, the program is a solution to their ongoing problems.
Developing nations like Kenya are seeing an alarming increase in their urban population.
According to statistics, almost 1 billion people live in informal settlements, or 32 pc of the world’s urban population.
Where will the Affordable Housing Project be implemented in Nairobi
In light of this, the locals identified issues, including a lack of infrastructure, clean water, and contemporary housing, as significant problems.
Majengo in Pumwani, Matopeni in Kayole, City Carton in Buru Buru Phase 1, and Muungano wa Kijiji Cha Grogon in Mathare are a few of these places.
“Based on what I’ve learnt, this program will benefit us. It will generate jobs and other prospects. We hope to see great progress here,” Carton City resident John Ngugi said, adding that they are ready to embrace the project.
Another resident, Anne Njogu, expressed confidence that the programme will provide many opportunities for women and youth.
“As residents, we are aware of this programme. We will be cooking for those working on these housing units. We want this work to start in earnest,” said Njogu.
Salim Juma, the head of the Settlement Executive Committee (SEC) of the Pumwani-Majengo group in Majengo, stated that the locals are fighting for reasonably priced housing.
“We desire the welfare of those at the base of the pyramid. This is because we have been forced to leave our homes at the expense of private developers for a very long time,” Juma stated.
How Nairobi residents want to pay for the Affordable Houses scheme
Zaituni Hassan, however, pleaded with the Kenya Kwanza administration in power to consider lowering the 10 pc deposit suggested in the housing scheme.
“We will value these residences when we acquire them, which are within our budget. We need to make more money to cover the deposit,” Zaituni pleaded with the president, “Let them be affordable less the 10 pc deposit.”
Fatuma Mohammed, a youth from Pumwani, said they would collect garbage and clean the apartments upon completing the housing projects.
“We shall be doing this door-to-door. As a community, we are ready to work with all involved in this project,” said Fatuma.
What authorities are saying about the Affordable Housing Program
However, Vivian Atieno, despite lauding all those involved in implementing the programme, urged the government to consider the youth as subcontractors.
“As youth, we can also supply building materials to the construction sites. When it comes to payments, we appeal to all those concerned to speed up the processes,” said Atieno.
When reached for comment, George Orwa, CEO of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KlSP2), said the initiative on block titles would come in through the levy to assist in putting up houses in partnership with beneficiaries of tenure regularisation through the utilisation of the vertical aspect of the land.
“Through this initiative, more people will benefit, and jobs will be ring-fenced to these beneficiaries before opening it up to people living outside the boundaries of those informal settlements,” said Orwa.
