NAIROBI, Kenya – The dream of affordable housing for Nairobi’s urban poor is at risk of remaining just that—a dream.
A new report from the Nairobi County Assembly’s Land Committee reveals that private developers hold the lion’s share of affordable housing units, leaving the city’s disadvantaged population with little hope of homeownership.
The report examines two flagship affordable housing projects, Jevanjee and Pangani, and exposes a stark imbalance: the majority of the units are owned by private investors, with only a fraction allocated to the public.
Even among the public-held units, some are reserved for politicians and city officials, further limiting accessibility for ordinary citizens.
At Pangani Estate, a project with 1,562 units, the public owns just 333 units. Of these, 128 one-bedroom units were initially owned by the county, but all have been sold.
For the remaining two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, private developers dominate ownership, leaving only a handful for the county.
Similarly, at Jevanjee Estate, out of 1,830 units, the county controls a meager 196, with private developers owning the rest.
When the affordable housing initiative was introduced under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, it was heralded as the solution to Nairobi’s sprawling slums.
Public land and funding were committed to ensure affordability and accessibility.
The current administration under President William Ruto even introduced a housing levy tax to enhance public investment in these projects.
However, the Land Committee’s findings suggest that the execution of these projects has failed to prioritize the urban poor.
Many units have already been sold, predominantly to private investors, making it nearly impossible for low-income families to secure homes.
“The promise of affordable housing has been overshadowed by the interests of private developers,” the report states, casting doubt on the government’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis.
The report also sheds light on delays plaguing the projects.
Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, and global economic disruptions, including the Ukraine war, have slowed progress.
The Jevanjee project, for instance, is only 46% complete and is expected to be finalized by September 2026—years behind schedule.
Further complicating matters, the county has been unable to locate the title deeds for some of the project lands.
The title for Pangani remains missing, while Jevanjee’s title has been transferred to a special-purpose vehicle established for its implementation.
Additionally, inflation and a depreciating Kenyan shilling have driven up construction costs, with supply chain disruptions exacerbating the problem.
The report’s findings strike a blow to the vision of affordable housing in Nairobi.
With most units already sold and ownership skewed towards private developers, the city’s urban poor remain marginalized.
A new report from the Nairobi County Assembly’s Land Committee reveals that private developers hold the lion’s share of affordable housing units, leaving the city’s disadvantaged population with little hope of homeownership.
The report examines two flagship affordable housing projects, Jevanjee and Pangani, and exposes a stark imbalance: the majority of the units are owned by private investors, with only a fraction allocated to the public.
Even among the public-held units, some are reserved for politicians and city officials, further limiting accessibility for ordinary citizens.
At Pangani Estate, a project with 1,562 units, the public owns just 333 units. Of these, 128 one-bedroom units were initially owned by the county, but all have been sold.
For the remaining two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, private developers dominate ownership, leaving only a handful for the county.
Similarly, at Jevanjee Estate, out of 1,830 units, the county controls a meager 196, with private developers owning the rest.
When the affordable housing initiative was introduced under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, it was heralded as the solution to Nairobi’s sprawling slums.
Public land and funding were committed to ensure affordability and accessibility.
The current administration under President William Ruto even introduced a housing levy tax to enhance public investment in these projects.
However, the Land Committee’s findings suggest that the execution of these projects has failed to prioritize the urban poor.
Many units have already been sold, predominantly to private investors, making it nearly impossible for low-income families to secure homes.
“The promise of affordable housing has been overshadowed by the interests of private developers,” the report states, casting doubt on the government’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis.
The report also sheds light on delays plaguing the projects.
Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, and global economic disruptions, including the Ukraine war, have slowed progress.
The Jevanjee project, for instance, is only 46% complete and is expected to be finalized by September 2026—years behind schedule.
Further complicating matters, the county has been unable to locate the title deeds for some of the project lands.
The title for Pangani remains missing, while Jevanjee’s title has been transferred to a special-purpose vehicle established for its implementation.
Additionally, inflation and a depreciating Kenyan shilling have driven up construction costs, with supply chain disruptions exacerbating the problem.
The report’s findings strike a blow to the vision of affordable housing in Nairobi.
With most units already sold and ownership skewed towards private developers, the city’s urban poor remain marginalized.
