Firms partner to make owning homes easier

Koto Housing Kenya has entered into a partnership with Optiven Ltd to help Kenyans own houses by converting their idle plots into homes.

In the partnership, Optiven will enable its clients who have idle plots get efficient, timely, affordable and innovative housing and building solutions within 30 to 60 days.

“Koto Housing Kenya’s unique selling point is speed of construction of insulated columns and beams structures. Our quick build housing solution requires that our customers have land and finances,” said Koto Executive Chair Nyokabi Muthama during the signing of the partnership.

“Optiven comes in to provide land, as our funding partner Jamii Bora Bank offers 100 per cent mortgage at a rate of 18 per cent  for those who have no finances,”

Campaign

The partnership will be rolled out through a campaign by Optiven called ‘You like it? We replicate it’. Koto Housing will construct a four-bedroom sample maisonette known as Zulia at Optiven’s Victory Gardens in Kitengela.

The show house will be ready by August 1 and will give clients a chance to visit and see what the finished product would look like.

Speaking at the event, Optiven CEO George Wachiuri said: “We have been looking for a partner who could match our vision of social economic transformation and we have found a strategic and reliable partner in Koto Housing Kenya.”

“Kenya has a shortfall of 150,000 houses per year. Companies like Optiven Limited and Koto Housing Kenya are determined to see more Kenyans own homes by developing affordable options for property buyers,” added Wachiuri.

Expansion

Optiven Ltd is already in six counties and plans to be in 20 counties by end of 2015.

Koto Housing CEO Moses Nderitu said the house plans are customised and allow people to construct houses in phases using the same plan rather than doing extensions.