KISUMU, Kenya August 8th -The Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) launched a two-day conference of the 4th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC) in Kisumu, themed “Revolutionising Housing Finance: Innovation Meets Sustainability.”
The conference brought together different stakeholders in the housing arena, including policymakers, investors, developers, and housing leaders from East Africa and beyond.
The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, has applauded the KMRC for its transformational role in advancing the country’s affordable housing agenda, citing its catalytic impact in housing finance and alignment with national development goals.
Speaking at the 4th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC), held at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, Hon Alice Wahome, emphasised KMRC’s indispensable role in delivering dignified, accessible housing under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“KMRC is instrumental in closing the affordability gap. To date, it has disbursed over Sh21.4 billion in single-digit, fixed-rate funding with long repayment periods to primary lenders, unlocking more than 4,500 affordable home loans across 39 counties.” CS Wahome said.
Themed “Revolutionising Housing Finance: Innovation Meets Sustainability,” the conference convened policymakers, investors, developers, and housing leaders from East Africa and beyond, including delegations from Tanzania, Uganda, India, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
In his opening address, KMRC CEO Johnstone Oltetia affirmed the company’s commitment to delivering market-based affordability and driving scalable models through innovation.
“At KMRC, we are steadfast in our mission to sustainably promote affordable housing and to support the Government of Kenya’s vision for dignified living,” said Oltetia.
“This conference must serve as a springboard for real transformation, where innovation and sustainability walk hand in hand to build homes, uplift families, and empower communities.”
Oltetia urged stakeholders to address financing, legal, and demographic bottlenecks collaboratively, calling for institutionalised public-private partnerships to unlock scalable solutions.
Host Governor Kisumu County Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o highlighted Kisumu’s leadership in implementing the affordable housing program, positioning the county as a model for county-level delivery. “Affordable housing in Kisumu is not just about shelter, it is a tool for equity, dignity, and economic revitalisation,” said Governor Nyong’o.
“We have embedded housing in our urban development strategy and partnered with LAPFUND, LAPTRUST, and the National Housing Corporation on large-scale projects.”
Key projects currently underway in Kisumu include Makasembo Estate (1,870 units), Anderson Ofafa Estate (1,200+ units), Lumumba Estate (2,384 units), Kanyakwar Project (2,600 units), and Kirembe Estate.
The Governor emphasised that counties must act as co-investors and enablers of the affordable housing vision by providing land, enabling infrastructure, and aligning legislative frameworks.
He called for seamless alignment between national and county governments to eliminate friction and accelerate delivery.
“The delivery of affordable housing requires a whole-of-government mindset anchored on institutionalised collaboration,” he said. “When we align plans, budgets, and regulations, we unlock scale, efficiency, and investor confidence.”
CS Wahome outlined a suite of reforms and digital innovations underway to support housing delivery, including the nationwide digitisation of land registries through Ardhisasa, a secure and transparent land information platform.
“Ardhisasa is more than a digital upgrade, it is the backbone of tenure security and efficient land markets,” she said. “By digitising land records, we are enhancing transparency, reducing fraud, and streamlining approvals that often delay affordable housing development.”
The platform is already operational in Nairobi and Murang’a and is being rolled out in Mombasa, Isiolo, and Marsabit, to integrate all 47 counties.
CS Wahome also highlighted the government’s operationalisation of the Sectional Properties Act, which enables apartment owners to obtain individual titles, critical for unlocking high-density housing finance.
“With urban land becoming scarce, vertical development is our future,” she said. “This legislation ensures such housing is bankable and legally sound.”
Delegates from Uganda, Tanzania, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, and the World Bank echoed the call for regional cooperation and knowledge transfer.
The participation of global housing finance institutions, including Cagamas, NHB, PMRC, and others, underscored the shared nature of the affordable housing challenge.
“Your presence enriches this conversation and affirms that the housing challenge and its solutions transcend borders,” said CS Wahome.
