MILIMANI, Kisumu, October 9th –The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has partnered with the Kisumu County Government in the construction of 164 modern housing units in the town.
The ambitious project will be undertaken at the posh Milimani Estate, marking a major milestone in the city’s ambitious urban revamping programme.
The project a joint venture between NSSF and the County of Kisumu, was commissioned in the presence of Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and NSSF Managing Trustee and CEO David Koros.
It will comprise 102 two-bedroom units and 62 three-bedroom apartments with domestic servant quarters (DSQs), built up to nine floors (G+9) in line with modern building standards.
According to Koros, the 18-month project is part of a broader plan to regenerate old estates and transform Kisumu into a model modern city. He said after the commissioning that they are implementing urban regeneration where old houses in Milimani are no longer fit for modern living.
‘We are now replacing them with high-quality, sustainable homes that match the city’s new standards,” he said.
The project will also integrate key infrastructure improvements, including upgraded water and sewer systems, paved walkways, and enhanced security installations.
‘‘The urban renewal programme aligns with UN-Habitat’s housing model standards and is expected to improve living conditions, expand affordable housing access, and optimise land use within the city,” he said.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said the Milimani project follows similar regeneration efforts launched earlier in Lumumba and Makasembo, signalling Kisumu’s steady transformation into a modern, livable urban hub.
“The Milimani development is one among several ongoing and planned estate renewal projects across Kisumu, including Lumumba, Makasembo, Anderson, and Mosque estates, with more expected in Kibuye, Kaloleni, and Obunga under the county’s geospatial housing plan,” he said.
He called for proper planning while such housing units are being developed to avoid their degradation. He noted that such problems tend to breed crime and related activities.
Earlier Koros said NSSF will expedite the payment of retirement benefits within one day after the filing of a claim. He said that retirees will be able to receive their pension payments within 24 hours, a significant improvement from the current situation where they sometimes wait up to a year.
“NSSF has been known not to pay claims for up to one year. I think you have heard these stories of some Kenyans dying before being paid, but we are going to make this a thing of the past. We will be paying benefits within one day by the end of this plan, which is 2027,” Koros said.
He highlighted the need for a cultural shift among Kenyans regarding the perception of retirement savings after statistics revealed that only six per cent of retirees rely on pension schemes, while 60 per cent of pensioners still engage in employment to sustain themselves.
Koros reiterated the importance of boosting the country’s savings rate, aiming to reach about 30 per cent of the GDP, a benchmark he said has been achieved by several nations.
He noted that most of Kenya’s population is young, and if they adopt the saving habit now, they can enjoy a comfortable retirement.Ends.
