Nairobi County Invites Bids for 60,000 Affordable Homes Across Key Estates

Nairobi City County Government has officially moved to the implementation stage of its ambitious Urban Renewal Programme. This massive undertaking is part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN), which seeks to modernise and expand the housing stock within the capital, addressing the persistent shortage of quality, affordable homes.

The programme targets the redevelopment of ten key old county estates, including Bahati, Maringo, Jericho, Lumumba, Ziwani, Bondeni, Embakasi, Kariobangi North, Gigiri, and Woodley. The strategy employs a phased approach designed to minimise resident displacement while simultaneously maximising the provision of new homes for both sale and rental.

 Implementation will be executed through a robust Joint Venture (JV) framework, where the county government provides the land as its equity contribution, while private sector developers are tasked with bringing in the requisite financing and technical expertise. This model is intended to attract significant private investment and ensure compliance with strict government standards on quality and affordability.

A flagship project under the initiative is the Maringo Estate Phase II redevelopment, which is slated to occupy 10 hectares. The plan for Maringo targets a minimum of 5,000 units, structured as a mix of townhouses and apartment blocks ranging from five to sixteen levels.

View a PDF link to The Maringo Phase II Estate Affordable Housing invitation for Developers

A core principle of the project is accessibility, with a 60:40 ratio established, and price caps for the affordable units clearly defined, making them accessible to low and middle-income earners. Three-bedroom homes are set at not more than KSh4,250,000, two-bedroom units at KSh3,500,000, and one-bedroom units are capped at KSh2,500,000.

Beyond the affordable segment, the county is also addressing different market needs, such as the proposed development at Gigiri Estate. This project is geared towards upper-class housing, featuring four-bedroom duplexes and apartment blocks, also delivered under the JV framework.

The entire Urban Renewal Programme aligns seamlessly with the national government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, utilising financing levers such as the Affordable Housing Levy, a reduced 5% deposit requirement for buyers, and long-term mortgages secured through the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company to make home ownership a reality for thousands of Nairobi residents.