Include the youth in President’s agenda on affordable housing

It is everyone’s dream to at one point in their lifetime have a place to call home.

As a matter of fact, owning a home is one of the measures of success in our society; a symbol of status and achievement.

This is because there are fewer things that provide the same feeling of satisfaction, joy and pride like the feeling of being a homeowner, having that one place you can call home, that safe haven in which you can build a family with your loving spouse, have kids and create memories with your family.

Wouldn’t it be nice to also have a place where you can invite your friends for nyama choma and drinks as you unwind on a festive season like this one? Imagine having a place of residence, no matter how small it is, where you can rest your head on the pillow every night without being harrowed by endless worries that you might just receive a not-so-friendly call from an angry landlord demanding for rent at the end of the month. In essence, the feeling of pride, and that peace that comes with the knowledge that come what may, you are a homeowner is unmatched.

Home ownership

Essentially, the concept of home ownership, specifically that of affordable homes, should be built on dreams like this. The welfare of our people lies in simple joys like having a place to call home.

That a young person living in the city is not deluding himself and building castles in the air if he entertains the plausibility of having such a castle in his name by the time he is 30 years old, and doing this without having to become a ‘tenderpreneur’ or winning a Sportpesa bet.

Notably, we still have a long way to go for this possibility to become a reality, but I will argue that we have never been closer. First of all, and for a long time now, there has been a mismatch between the demand and supply of housing units in Kenya.

Estimates place our current demand at 250,000 housing units and the supply at less than 50,000 housing units, which is way below the target.

What’s more, most of the housing units that developers avail to the market are unaffordable to the common mwananchi, particularly the youth. They end up being taken up by the wealthy (who are already home-owners), who then rent them out. Eventually, the core of the problem remains unaddressed.

The fact that our national median age is 19 years, and that about 75 per cent of our population is below 35 years old means that the current housing deficit primarily affects the youth and places a large segment of our demographic landscape at a great disadvantage. The same age group is also grappling with other socio-economic issues such as unemployment.

With this in mind, it is important that the concept of affordable homes takes this youthful group and their needs into consideration. Policy makers must make a provision for this seemingly peculiar demographic reality and ensure that the needs of the growing youthful population are taken care of.

At the same time, it is prudent to ensure that that the housing needs of the youth are understood by both the government and the private sector before action is taken.

Further to this, there is need for awareness on issues regarding affordability of housing among the youth.

Create awareness

For a start, awareness on how eligibility and enrollment procedures will suffice. Further to this, models of financing, and developing financing packages tailored for the youth would be a good place to start.

Equally important is the availability of information on the methods to be used in allocating houses under the affordable housing programme and whether any special consideration will be taken for the youth.

Hopefully, the Government and the private sector work hand in hand to bridge this tremendous housing gap.

The resulting multiplier effect will create numerous employment opportunities for the youth, who can then be gainfully employed as facilities managers, estate agents, engineers among other professions, and as a result, boost other sectors of the economy.

All in all, everyone has a right to housing, with dignity, security and peace. The youth, being a specifically vulnerable social group, should also get a shot at a chance to own homes as early as now. What’s more, this legacy should be handed down to generations: that no matter how young you are, you are never too young to own your own home.

Mr Mokamba comments on social issues.