Kenyan Housing Summit to Tackle Inclusive and Sustainable Housing Finance
By Carolyne Tomno | NAIROBI,
Kenya’s drive toward affordable housing is reaching a decisive turning point. As the country grapples with both a shortfall in homes and tight credit markets, the conversation is officially shifting from merely building houses to making sure everyday citizens can actually afford to buy them.
To address this challenge, the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) will convene leaders from across the real estate and financial sectors for the 5th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC). The summit takes place Aug. 20–21 at the Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County under the theme “Scaling the Base: Unlocking Inclusive and Sustainable Housing Solutions.”
The conference comes at a crucial moment for Kenya’s housing market, where millions of low- and middle-income workers, particularly those in the informal economy.
“This year’s theme speaks to both the scale of the challenge and the promise before us: to close the twin gaps that constrain access at scale,” said Johnstone Oltetia, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of KMRC. “On the supply side, the shortfall in affordable units, and on the demand side, the millions of Kenyans locked out by limited housing finance and informal, irregular incomes—and to do so in ways that are inclusive, resilient, and built to last.”
Tackling the Credit Barrier
Over two days, delegates including government officials, mortgage lenders, pension funds, SACCOs, and international development finance institutions will examine concrete ways to expand homeownership.
A core priority of this year’s summit is breaking down barriers for informal workers, micro-entrepreneurs, and SACCO members. Experts from Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and India will share alternative credit scoring models and inclusive lending frameworks designed to help non-salaried earners qualify for long-term home loans.
To ensure policies reflect real-world conditions, the conference will feature first-person accounts from Kenyan families navigating the path to homeownership, highlighting the practical obstacles buyers face on the ground.
The event will culminate in the launch of the inaugural Kenya Affordable Housing Awards, honoring primary mortgage lenders and industry partners who are driving innovation, improving customer experience, and expanding access to housing finance across the region.
