The need for affordable housing solutions in Kenya

It is quite evident that the country is in dire need of a proper, adequate and efficient housing system if we are to meet the SDG's especially goal number 11 and 13. This evidence is presented in the Housing Strategic Plan of 2008-2013 that indicates the housing sector in Kenya is deficient in the provision of adequate, affordable and decent housing. In urban areas, the country requires an annual output of approximately 150,000 housing units annually yet, only 35,000 units are produced. For low income households, approximately only 7000 units within this quantity are produced, representing only 20% to cater for their housing needs.

A clear manifestation of this problem is the growth and encroachment of informal settlement or slums as they are commonly known. Kenya’s annual informal settlement growth is estimated at between 4.3%-5% and in a city like Nairobi; this is on land that occupies an area of about 1% of the designated residential areas. With 34% of the total population living in urban areas, 50-71% of this population is confined to living in informal settlements and this number continues to increase each day. The residents of these areas live under deplorable conditions and lack basic needs, social amenities while faced with challenges such as poor(low) quality housing; general lack of infrastructure, sanitation, waste management, clean and potable water, energy, healthcare, schools, and security inclusive of land tenure which results in poor and environmental and social conditions. A lot of literature which is in the public domain and research has been conducted on the factors and causes of the current situation and it will be myopic of me to look back at this data rather than focus on addressing the problem. This paints a very dark picture of the society we live in and something needs to be done now to ensure that every citizen of this country has a secure environment. It is thus our responsibility to innovate and apply new solutions for the benefit of fellow mankind