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The Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) has been praised for playing a major role in advancing President William Ruto’s affordable housing plan under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The recognition came during the 4th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference held in Kisumu, which brought together key players from Kenya, other African countries, and international partners.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said KMRC has been a game-changer in housing finance, helping thousands of Kenyans access decent and affordable homes. She noted that the company has so far disbursed more than Sh21.4 billion in low-interest, fixed-rate loans with long repayment periods to primary lenders, unlocking over 4,500 affordable home loans in 39 counties. Wahome stressed that such funding has helped close the housing affordability gap in the country.
The CS also explained that the government is introducing several reforms and digital innovations to support the housing sector. One of these is the digitisation of land registries through the ‘Ardhisasa’ platform. She described it as a secure and transparent system that will improve tenure security, reduce fraud, and speed up approvals for housing projects. The platform is already in use in Nairobi and Murang’a, with plans to roll it out in Mombasa, Isiolo, and Marsabit, and eventually in all 47 counties.
Wahome further pointed out the importance of the Sectional Properties Act, which allows apartment owners to get individual title deeds. This is expected to boost high-density housing projects by making them bankable and legally sound. “With urban land becoming scarce, vertical development is the way forward,” she said.
KMRC Chief Executive Officer Johnstone Oltetia echoed the CS’s remarks, saying the company is committed to promoting affordable housing in a sustainable way. He urged stakeholders to work together to overcome financing, legal, and demographic challenges, and called for stronger public-private partnerships to create scalable solutions. Oltetia emphasised that innovation and sustainability must go hand in hand to deliver homes that transform lives and uplift communities.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o also shared how the county is leading in implementing affordable housing projects. He said Kisumu has made housing part of its urban development strategy and has partnered with organisations like LAPFUND, LAPTRUST, and the National Housing Corporation to deliver large-scale projects.
Nyong’o added that counties must take an active role as co-investors and facilitators by providing land, building infrastructure, and aligning local laws with national policies. He called for close cooperation between the national and county governments to remove delays and speed up the housing agenda. “Affordable housing in Kisumu is not just about providing shelter. It is a tool for equity, dignity, and economic growth,” he said.
The conference, themed “Revolutionising Housing Finance: Innovation Meets Sustainability”, attracted policymakers, investors, developers, and housing experts from East Africa, India, Pakistan, and Malaysia. It served as a platform to share ideas and experiences on how to improve housing finance, embrace innovation, and promote sustainability in the sector.
With Kenya facing a housing deficit of over two million units, the role of KMRC and the government’s reforms are seen as crucial in bridging the gap. Stakeholders agree that strong partnerships, transparent processes, and innovative financing models will be key to achieving President Ruto’s vision of dignified housing for all Kenyans.
