By Lenah Bosibori
Kenya is set to host the fifth Kenya Affordable Housing Conference as the country shifts its focus from simply building more houses to helping more people afford to buy them.
The conference, organized by the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company, KMRC, will take place from August 20 to 21 in Nakuru County.
It will bring together government leaders, banks, SACCOs, developers, pension funds, investors, housing agencies, development finance institutions and housing experts.
The conference will be held under the theme “Scaling the Base: Unlocking Inclusive and Sustainable Housing Solutions.”
Speaking ahead of the event, KMRC Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Johnstone Oltetia said the discussions will focus on two major barriers to affordable housing: the shortage of affordable homes and limited access to home loans.
“This year’s theme speaks to both the scale of the challenge and the promise before us,” Oltetia said. “We must close the twin gaps that constrain access at scale. On the supply side, there is a shortfall in affordable units. On the demand side, millions of Kenyans are locked out by limited housing finance and informal, irregular incomes.”
For many Kenyans, owning a home remains difficult because most mortgage products are designed for people in formal employment with stable monthly salaries. Yet many Kenyans earn their income through small businesses, casual work and other informal jobs.
The conference will explore ways to make home loans more accessible to informal workers, micro entrepreneurs, SACCO members and other groups that have often been left out of the mortgage market.
Experts from Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and India are expected to share ideas and experiences on lending models that can help low- and middle-income households access housing finance.
The discussions will also examine new ways of financing housing, including blended finance, support from development finance institutions and mortgage liquidity facilities. These approaches could help banks and other lenders offer more affordable loans, while supporting developers to build more homes.
Land will also be a major topic. Speakers will discuss how better land administration, title regularization and improved land governance can speed up housing projects and attract investment.
Participants will further examine the role of banks, SACCOs, pension funds, investors and development finance institutions in raising money for housing.
The conference will also focus on sustainable housing. Sessions will look at climate-resilient homes, green buildings and construction methods that use resources efficiently without making houses too expensive for buyers.
Technology will feature in the discussions, including modern construction methods, new building materials and the use of artificial intelligence in the housing sector.
Industry leaders will examine how technology can reduce construction costs, improve efficiency, speed up housing projects and make homeownership more accessible.
Delegates will also review Kenya’s Residential Property Price Index and other housing market trends. The discussions will offer insights on housing demand, affordability, investment patterns and the impact of housing policies.
The conference will draw lessons from Japan, India and South Africa, focusing on housing finance systems, delivery models and regulations that could guide Kenya’s housing agenda.
Homeowners will also share their experiences, giving participants a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities Kenyans face on their journey to owning a home.
The event will end with the inaugural Kenya Affordable Housing Awards, which will recognize mortgage lenders that are expanding homeownership, improving customer experience, promoting sustainability and developing new housing finance solutions.