Transport CS James Macharia during interview at his office in Nairobi on May 26, 2017. FILE PHOTO | NMG
What you need to know:
Project, which is in the pilot stage, is meant to benefit low-income earners
The 55-acre land set aside for the project will accommodate stand-alone units as well as communal houses in multi-storied structures.
The Mavoko contract will see several building technologies introduced in the country for mass housing unit builders.
Kenyans will buy the planned 8,000 low-cost houses to be put up in Mavoko sub-county at between Sh1 million and Sh1.5 million.
Transport, Urban Infrastructure and Housing Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said this is aimed at enabling low-income earners access the two and three-bedroom houses near their workplaces.
He said the 55-acre land set aside for the project will accommodate stand-alone units as well as communal houses in multi-storied structures.
A number of contractors will be tasked with delivering the units in the shortest time possible, at the lowest possible price, using various building technologies while maintaining high quality.
“Some 60 contractors expressed their interest in putting up the houses under an Engineering and Procurement Contract (EPC) that allows them to build and deliver houses to government.
"We have since shortlisted 35 local and international firms that will be allowed to participate in the tendering process expected to commence shortly,” the CS said.
Pilot project
The Mavoko structures are a pilot project for the planned national rollout of a housing plan targeting the low-income urban workers.
The CS said social housing will be priced at between Sh500,000 and Sh700,000 a unit.
The project could offer serious competition to the housing boom enjoyed by small housing development firms, real estate investors, Saccos and bank-fronted projects dubbed ‘gated’ communities, whose units are sold at premium prices of more than Sh3.5 million.
The Mavoko contract, Mr Macharia said, will see several building technologies introduced in the country for mass housing unit builders.
A local consortia of funders, makers of building materials and housing developers will also join the fray.
NSSF is among the local firms that have expressed interest in participating in the mass housing development.
NSSF’s corporate communications manager Christopher Khisa confirmed it had responded to the government’s call for private sector and other corporate agencies to participate in the provision of low-cost housing.
A study by non-governmental housing organisation Habitat for Humanity Kenya has endorsed the project saying provision of land by the government would address a major impediment to home ownership in Kenya.
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