Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome. Photo/KBC Digital
By Newsflash Writer
Kisumu County will host a key event in Kenya’s push for sustainable and affordable housing, as the 4th Kenya Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC 2025) kicks off on 7–8 August at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel.
The two-day forum, organized by the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), will bring together over 250 stakeholders from government, finance, construction, academia, and development sectors.
Held under the theme “Revolutionizing Housing: Innovation Meets Sustainability,” the conference is expected to play a critical role in shaping Kenya’s housing agenda.
With a growing demand for housing, especially among low- and middle-income earners, the event will offer a platform for public-private dialogue and collaboration in addressing the country’s housing deficit.
KMRC CEO Johnstone Oltetia underscored the conference’s practical focus: “If our housing solutions aren’t designed to meet Kenyans where they are—especially the 80% working in the informal economy—we will never close the housing gap. That’s why KAHC is different. It’s not just a policy forum; it’s a place where theory meets practice.”
Spotlight on green innovation and financing
The KAHC 2025 will showcase cutting-edge solutions across the housing value chain—from green construction and efficient building technologies to inclusive financial instruments and enabling regulations. A major focus will be placed on green affordable housing, risk-sharing facilities, innovative mortgage products, and how counties are stepping up to co-finance infrastructure projects.
Read more: Co-op Bank, Optiven & Everstrong launch integrated housing
High-level speakers lined up for the opening plenary include Kisumu Governor and Council of Governors Housing Committee Chair Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, and Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga. Their presence reflects the national importance of the agenda and the growing alignment between national and county governments.
Additionally, international delegates from India, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Pakistan will enrich the forum with global perspectives and best practices, drawn from institutions such as the Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company (PMRC), Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC), and Malaysia’s Cagamas.
Kisumu’s housing projects take the spotlight
A signature highlight of this year’s event is a guided site tour of Kisumu’s ongoing housing projects in Makasembo, Anderson-Ofafa, and Lumumba Estate. These developments offer a living example of how policy is being translated into action on the ground. Delegates will experience firsthand how county-led and national initiatives are working in tandem to deliver real homes for real people.
This on-the-ground engagement is expected to deepen discussions on replicating successful models across other counties. With the counties playing an increasingly pivotal role in housing delivery, Kisumu’s projects could become blueprints for scalable, community-centered housing across the country.
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