NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 26 -Mizizi Africa Homes has today called on the government to avail land to private developers to accelerate efforts of bridging the country’s housing deficit.
The infrastructural support under public-private partnership, Mizizi Africa Homes Chief Executive Officer, George Mburu said will encourage developers to put up more affordable housing units and help the government meet its ambitious target of 500,000 by 2022.
“Government alone cannot fix the housing deficit on its own. To accelerate development of affordable housing units, the government can offer infrastructural support in the form of availing land for putting up the housing units,” said Mburu.
He spoke during the official handover of Heritage Estate in Kimunyu Town, Kenyatta Road along Thika Superhighway just 25 minutes’ drive from Nairobi CBD.
Kenya has a deficit of 2 Million houses, every year Kenya needs approximately 200,000 housing units.
“The country is in urgent need of many housing units that citizens can also afford. The current deficit continues to grow with growth in population exacerbated by rural urban population. We need to find a lasting solution and this can only be through public-private partnerships,” said Mburu.
Mizizi Africa CEO proposes an arrangement where the government can sell land to private developers at subsidised rates or offers flexible payment models with long tenure including settling costs at a later date.
The government can also accelerate the pace of other necessary approvals.
“This will allow us to significantly increase the number of units we churn out from 100 to 1,000. All we will need is to increase our workforce and capacity to deliver,” he said.
Cost of purchasing land takes about 30 percent of the total project cost. Taking this out would translate to 30 per cent savings that can be passed on to customers in the form of affordable houses.
Heritage Estate an 18-unit all ensuite 3-bedroom bungalow that introduces owners to modern luxury living is the firm’s second project that has been successfully completed and handed over to customers.
“This is yet another testament that we are committed to delivering quality results as agreed at the start of the project and within set timelines without compromising our promise of affordability,” said Mburu.
It comes with a spacious sunken lounge and dining area, large windows for natural lighting, spacious laundry, customizable open Kitchen with granite breakfast table, cabinet, fridge and cooker area.
It also features cabro paved roads, parking slots for two cars and high perimeter wall all-round the estate.
