NAIROBI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government plans to launch a low cost housing project that will see 30,000 houses constructed in east of Nairobi as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's development agenda, an official said on Sunday.
State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu told journalists that the low cost project targets to putting up 5,000 houses in Shauri Moyo, 20,000 houses in Makongeni, 3,000 houses in Starehe and 2,000 units in Park Road estates.
Esipisu said the team leading the regeneration of Nairobi has given itself a timeline of six months to undertake the project.
"The team has a six-month deadline to ensure that the breaking of grounds happens, and the construction begins in earnest," he told journalists in Nairobi.
According to the government statistics, Kenya has a shortage of descent houses in most of its towns and cities.
The shortage is currently estimated at 250,000 housing units a year, although housing and estate development firms have the potential to produce 50,000 homes a year.
Esipisu said plans are already underway to set-up of the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company to help with bonds for affordable housing.
He said construction of the Shauri Moyo, Makongeni and Starehe houses will kick off within six months while the breaking ground for the 2,000 units of affordable housing on Park Road will be within three months.
"We have already spoken to setting up of the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company within the next month. But what will define a changing Nairobi will be the breaking of ground for three flagship projects as part of the President's Big Four agenda," Esipisu said.
Kenyan officials say there has been very rapid urbanization over the last few years and this has resulted in putting up of buildings whether residential or commercial haphazardly without regard to precautions of user compatibility.
