Kenya requires more than 250,000 housing units every year to meet the demand/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya 24th Apr – The government has pledged support for Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVETs) to ensure the youth have the requisite skill for provision of various construction services.
“We will engage with TVETs to train plumbers, carpenters and electricians among other artisans in a programme that will provide job opportunities to 350,000 youths,” said Housing and Urban Development, Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga.
This contribution will boost the delivery of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ambitious Big Four Agenda which promises to 500,000 houses by 2022.
At the launch of a contractors and developers training, the PS said, “The housing plan envisages a delivery strategy that is inclusive of all stakeholders who include County Governments, private sector, housing co-operatives, land owners, financiers among others.”
The Affordable Housing Programme will enable Kenyans especially those in the low income bracket an opportunity to secure a decent home.
Currently, Kenya requires more than 250,000 housing units every year to meet the demand. This is against the annual average of 50,000 units delivered by the government and private developers per year.
Shelter Afrique Managing Director Andrew Chinphondah said the rate of urbanization in Africa is fastest in the world with 4% of the population moving from rural-urban areas.
“Housing in Africa is a crisis, we estimate the shortage of affordable houses to be in excess of 51 million units. In Nigeria the deficit is 17 million, Kenya and South Africa 2 million, Tanzania and Uganda 3 million,” Chinphondah noted.
He said that housing prices and delivery of housing had a substantial gap, mentioning that Nigeria would likely be the third most populated country in the next three years not only in Africa but the whole world.
