Monday's launch of a Sh20 billion housing project by President William Ruto in Ziwani is expected to be a game-changer in the government's plan to give those living in informal settlements decent housing.
The project is a partnership between the government and GulfCap Africa Limited and will comprise one, two and three-bedroom 6,704 units. The selling price for the units starts from Sh1.155 million.
It will be undertaken in five phases over three years.
It will include children's playgrounds, a swimming pool, a gym, greenery, sports facilities, a community center, an Early Childhood Development centre, outdoor communal recreational facilities, food courts, and many others.
The developer is GulfCap Real Estate. The government in its agenda has committed to support the development of 200,000 housing units per annum.
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According to Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, the project will be the biggest to date.
Dr Ruto yesterday said priority will be given to youth and women who will get jobs in the project.
This will be Ruto's fifth affordable housing project launched this year after Homa Bay, Ruiru, Kibera and Shauri Moyo.
East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) member Suleiman Shahbal said in addition to creating over 6,000 new homeowners, the project will create thousands of job opportunities directly and indirectly for the people of Nairobi, especially the hustlers.
Shahbal owns GulfCap Real Estate.
The firm has already completed phase 1 of the Buxton project in Mombasa, which has 584 affordable housing units that are ready for occupation.
He added that they would dedicate over Sh500 million worth of project tenders for the Jua Kali sector with at least 50 per cent going to women.
"We are grateful for the support that both the national and county Governments have extended towards this project which has also excited our local manufacturing players who will provide us with the required materials for the project," he said.
Affordable housing is one of the key pillars of the Big 4 agenda, which was launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017. Jubilee administration sought to deliver 500,000 affordable houses by last year.