The dream of affordable housing for Nairobi’s urban poor may remain unfulfilled, as a report reveals that private investors own the majority of affordable housing units in the city.
The Nairobi County Assembly’s land committee reviewed projects like Pangani and Jevanjee estates, finding that only a small fraction of units are publicly owned, with some reserved for politicians and officials.
For instance, out of 1,562 units in Pangani, only 333 are county-owned. Similarly, Jevanjee has 1,830 units, with the county owning a mere 196 across all categories. Most of these units have already been sold, largely to private developers.
Affordable housing was a flagship initiative of the Uhuru Kenyatta administration, supported by public land and funding, aiming to provide housing at low costs. President William Ruto’s administration further introduced a mandatory housing levy to bolster public stake in such projects. However, the report undermines these goals.
Delays in project completion were attributed to challenges like COVID-19, floods, political unrest, fluctuating currency values, and global supply chain disruptions. For Jevanjee Estate, the project is 46% complete and expected to finish by September 2026.
Additionally, the title deeds for some projects remain unaccounted for, with the Pangani project lacking clarity on its title deed’s custody.
