KPDA pushes private sector role in affordable housing drive

The Kenya Property Developers Association (KPDA) has rallied government officials, financiers and private developers to accelerate delivery of affordable housing, as the State moves to meet its ambitious construction targets under the national housing programme.

At the association’s annual Developers Engagement Forum on Friday, Housing Secretary Qs. Cassius Kusienya, speaking on behalf of Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, said 262,913 affordable housing units are currently under development across the country, with 8,367 units already completed.

Kusienya told stakeholders that achieving the annual target of 200,000 housing units will require stronger collaboration with the private sector.

He described KPDA as a key implementation partner and noted that through incentives such as the VAT Exemption Programme, government has supported private developers to construct 13,622 affordable housing units.

“Parliament enacted the Affordable Housing Act 2024 to give effect to the constitutional right to accessible and adequate housing,” Kusienya said.

“The programme is moving from frameworks to physical assets, converting the entire country into one massive construction site.”

The Affordable Housing Board outlined emerging operational structures, including a standardized developer engagement framework.

Board member John Kimani said a KPDA-Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) consortium will join the programme as an institutional partner, allowing private developers to build units that the Board will off-take for allocation to eligible homebuyers.

The arrangement is anchored in Section 44 of the Affordable Housing Act, which provides for agreements between the Board and private institutions.

Developers shared experiences from completed and ongoing projects. Harveer Singh of Landmark Holdings presented on the delivery of over 1,000 units in Konza using aluminium formwork technology to accelerate construction timelines.

Mumo Kianga of Mi Vida Homes and Kioi Wambaa of IHS Kenya highlighted their partnership in delivering 200 green-certified units at Garden City, with 4,000 additional units planned.

Unity Homes’ Jason Horsey also outlined lessons from multiple projects already delivered under the programme.

Technical partners addressed implementation challenges, including taxation and construction efficiency.

Seeta Shah of FSD Kenya presented findings from the VAT Incentive Programme, while Marjorie Kivuva of Tarra Agility guided developers on accessing a 15 per cent corporate tax rebate available to those building at least 100 residential units annually.

Sam Muihia and Parin Shah of Kumkang Kind demonstrated how aluminium formwork systems can reduce construction cycles to between four and seven days per floor.

Stakeholders were told the Affordable Housing Programme has created more than 525,000 jobs since 2022, with notable participation from youth, women and persons with disabilities.

More than Ksh.11 billion has been ring-fenced for micro, small and medium enterprises and Jua Kali artisans supplying materials for completed projects.

KPDA Chairman Ken Luusa described the association as a bridge between government and private developers.

“The private sector is ready. Government has laid out its priorities. The question is whether we can build the bridge between them that allows both sides to meet their objectives,” he said.

A fireside chat moderated by Architectural Association of Kenya President Arch. George Arabu brought together representatives from the Affordable Housing Board, FSD Kenya, Tarra Agility and Kumkang Kind to discuss replication strategies and structuring bankable housing projects.

The forum concluded with structured networking sessions linking developers with financiers, government agencies and technical partners, as stakeholders signalled renewed momentum toward scaling affordable housing delivery nationwide.