Kenya Affordable Housing Conference to address financing barriers for homeownership

The two-day event, held from August 20 to 21 at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru county, will gather government officials, financial institutions, developers, and international experts. KMRC Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Johnstone Oltetia stated that discussions will move beyond housing unit construction to address financial barriers. Key challenges include a shortage of affordable housing units and limited access to housing finance for Kenyans with informal or irregular incomes.

The conference will explore financing models such as blended finance and mortgage liquidity facilities, alongside land reforms. A significant focus will be on extending housing finance to underserved groups, including informal workers and SACCO members. Representatives from Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and India will share approaches for financing low- and middle-income families.

The agenda also includes promoting sustainable and climate-resilient housing, green buildings, and the role of artificial intelligence in the housing sector. Insights into Kenya's residential property market, including the Residential Property Price Index, will be presented to inform policies. The conference will also draw lessons from housing finance systems in countries like Japan, India, and South Africa.

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