How to make the free public land plan work for affordable housing

According to the recently concluded population census, approximately 10 million Kenyans live in slums. Only 10 percent of Kenyans living in urban areas own their homes, while the majority live in informal settlements.

It is therefore noteworthy that in an effort to provide a solution to the endemic housing problem in the country, the government has proposed in its 2020 draft Budget Policy Statement, to contribute public land — at no cost, towards affordable housing. The government anticipates that this will breathe life into the affordable housing programme, which forms part of the Big Four Agenda.