Kisumu, Kenya – August 7, 2025 – The Government of Kenya has applauded the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) for its transformational role in advancing the country’s affordable housing agenda, citing its catalytic impact in housing finance and alignment with national development goals.

Speaking at the 4th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC), held at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Hon. Alice Wahome emphasized KMRC’s indispensable role in delivering dignified, accessible housing under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

“KMRC is instrumental in closing the affordability gap,” said CS Wahome. “To date, it has disbursed over Kes. 21.4 billion in single digit, fixed-rate funding with long repayment period to primary lenders, unlocking more than 4,500 affordable home loans across 39 counties.”

Themed “Revolutionizing Housing Finance: Innovation Meets Sustainability,” the conference convened policymakers, investors, developers, and housing leaders from East Africa and beyond, including delegations from Tanzania, Uganda, India, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
In his opening address, KMRC CEO Johnstone Oltetia affirmed the company’s commitment to delivering market-based affordability and driving scalable models through innovation.

“At KMRC, we are steadfast in our mission to sustainably promote affordable housing and to support the Government of Kenya’s vision for dignified living,” said Oltetia. “This conference must serve as a springboard for real transformation, where innovation and sustainability walk hand in hand to build homes, uplift families, and empower communities.”

Oltetia urged stakeholders to address financing, legal, and demographic bottlenecks collaboratively, calling for institutionalized public-private partnerships to unlock scalable solutions.

Host Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o highlighted Kisumu’s leadership in implementing the affordable housing program, positioning the county as a model for county-level delivery.

“Affordable housing in Kisumu is not just about shelter, it is a tool for equity, dignity, and economic revitalization,” said Governor Nyong’o. “We have embedded housing in our urban development strategy and partnered with LAPFUND, LAPTRUST, and the National Housing Corporation on large-scale projects.”

Key projects currently underway in Kisumu include:

  • Makasembo Estate (1,870 units)
  • Anderson Ofafa Estate (1,200+ units)
  • Lumumba Estate (2,384 units)
  • Kanyakwar Project (2,600 units)
  • Kirembe Estate
The Governor emphasized that counties must act as co-investors and enablers of the affordable housing vision by providing land, enabling infrastructure, and aligning legislative frameworks. He called for seamless alignment between national and county governments to eliminate friction and accelerate delivery.

“The delivery of affordable housing requires a whole-of-government mindset anchored on institutionalized collaboration,” he said. “When we align plans, budgets, and regulations, we unlock scale, efficiency, and investor confidence.”

CS Wahome outlined a suite of reforms and digital innovations underway to support housing delivery, including the nationwide digitization of land registries through Ardhisasa, a secure and transparent land information platform.

“Ardhisasa is more than a digital upgrade, it is the backbone of tenure security and efficient land markets,” she said. “By digitizing land records, we are enhancing transparency, reducing fraud, and streamlining approvals that often delay affordable housing development.”
The platform is already operational in Nairobi and Murang’a and is being rolled out in Mombasa, Isiolo, and Marsabit, with the goal of integrating all 47 counties.

CS Wahome also highlighted the government’s operationalization of the Sectional Properties Act, which enables apartment owners to obtain individual titles, critical for unlocking high-density housing finance.

“With urban land becoming scarce, vertical development is our future,” she said. “This legislation ensures such housing is bankable and legally sound.”

Delegates from Uganda, Tanzania, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, and the World Bank echoed the call for regional cooperation and knowledge transfer. The participation of global housing finance institutions, including Cagamas, NHB, PMRC, and others, underscored the shared nature of the affordable housing challenge.

“Your presence enriches this conversation and affirms that the housing challenge and its solutions transcend borders,” said CS Wahome.
As the first day of the two-day conference concluded, the overarching message was one of urgency, unity, and action. The convergence of innovation, policy reforms, sustainable financing, and digital systems is set to accelerate Kenya’s housing revolution.

“This conference must be remembered not just for speeches but for forging the partnerships and innovations that will shape housing for generations,” said Oltetia.

“Let us institutionalize collaboration through shared frameworks, integrated platforms, and enabling legislation,” concluded Governor Nyong’o. “Only then will we build not just homes but inclusive, thriving communities.”
The two-day conference concludes tomorrow, August 8, 2025.
Media Contact:
Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC)
Email: info@kmrc.co.ke
Website: www.kmrc.co.ke

About KMRC
The Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) is a non-deposit taking financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya. Its mandate is to provide long-term, low-cost refinance to primary mortgage lenders, enabling them to offer affordable home loans to low- and middle-income Kenyans. KMRC is a key implementing agency of Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme and a catalyst in building a sustainable housing finance ecosystem.

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