Enforce industry standards and regulations to overcome housing sector challenges- Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service
The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service presided over the National Housing Corporation's (NHC) 70th anniversary and the launch of the strategic plan for 2023-2027 at the Bomas of Kenya on May 27, 2024. Key figures in the housing sector at the event included Hon. Alice Wahome, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, Principal Secretaries Mr. Charles Hinga (Housing and Urban Development) and Mr. Joel Arumonyang (Works), Hon. Lindikiri Mugambi (Member of Parliament, Buuri constituency), Faith Gitau (Woman Representative, Nyandarua), NHC Board Chairman Hon. Yusuf Chanzu, NHC Managing Director David Mathu and private sector partners.
He expressed his delight in joining the celebrations, marking the 70th anniversary of NHC. He emphasised the importance of housing, referencing the Biblical story of mankind's first habitat, underscoring the sanctity and necessity of a dwelling for human dignity. He cited Article 43 of the Constitution, which recognises housing as a fundamental human right, and highlighted the critical role of housing in the Kenya Kwanza Plan for socio-economic development, particularly for the youth graduating from TVETs.
The Chief of Staff reiterated the government's commitment, under the leadership of the President, to addressing the housing deficit through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda and the recently enacted Affordable Housing Act, 2024. He mentioned that the Act created the Affordable Housing Fund to finance the construction of affordable housing units, targeting the low-income demographic, and supporting the development of social amenities and last-mile infrastructure.
He pointed out the urgency of addressing the housing issue, given the rapid urbanisation rate of 4.4% annually, resulting in about 500,000 new urban dwellers each year. He noted ongoing affordable housing projects in 39 counties, with Nairobi City County leading with over 64,000 units under development. The Chief of Staff also acknowledged the critical role of the private sector and the government's commitment to enabling policy reforms to encourage private sector involvement.
The Chief of Staff emphasised the role of innovation and technology in providing better quality and affordable housing and highlighted the government's digitisation to enhance transparency and efficiency in land and property management.
The Chief of Staff stressed that the housing agenda is about building communities and ensuring inclusive development for all citizens, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. He mentioned the "buy local, build local" directive to use locally available labour and materials. He assured that expanding the Affordable Housing Programme would create job opportunities, transfer skills, and formalise cottage industries, thus enriching people's lives.
He highlighted significant challenges in the housing sector, such as urban planning, adherence to standards, land reforms, partnerships, financing mechanisms, sustainability, and corruption. He urged agencies to enforce industry standards and regulations and emphasised the government's commitment to fighting corruption.
The Chief of Staff celebrated NHC's legacy in providing affordable housing over the past seven decades and acknowledged the visionaries who laid the foundation for Kenya's urban development. He appreciated NHC's new brand identity, reflecting a renewed commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. He reiterated the government's vision of providing affordable and decent housing for all Kenyans and called for a nationwide commitment to build a robust and resilient nation. Finally, he encouraged NHC to lead in thought leadership, policy reform, and action-readiness to prevent issues like collapsing buildings and land encroachment.
