A civil society organization has joined hands with stakeholders in an effort to reduce Kenya’s housing deficit, which currently stands at 250,000 units annually.
Speaking during World Habitat Day celebrations at Naibor village in Laikipia East Sub-County, Habitat for Humanity Kenya Programme Director Nixon Otieno revealed that the initiative has so far provided decent shelter to 1,200 vulnerable families across four counties.
Otieno noted that beyond providing housing, the program has invested in training local communities on the use of Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB) — an affordable construction technology that utilizes locally available materials to produce durable building blocks.
“About four million Kenyans, representing 60 percent of urban dwellers, live in informal settlements. The ongoing government affordable housing programme, coupled with community-driven initiatives, is critical in addressing this crisis,” Otieno said.
The World Habitat Day celebrations highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between government, civil society, and local communities to ensure access to decent housing for all.
