Home Afrika to build 20,000 low cost homes in Machakos

Property developer Home Afrika has announced plans to build 20,000 low-cost homes in Athi River, Machakos, to cater for the lower end segment of the housing market.

Home Afrika CEO Njoroge Ng’ang’a said the homes, costing Sh1 million for a two-bedroom unit, will be built on 1,000 acres in Athi River as the developer seeks to meet the rising demand for housing in the country.

“We want to venture into Machakos and the Kikwetu project will be designated for the area, as we endeavour to provide affordable and quality housing for the low- to middle- income earners, and to provide facilities that will foster comfortable communal living,” he said.

The development will include up to 4,000 apartment units. Kikwetu will vary from low-cost high rise flats to middle-income apartments and stand-alone town houses, targeting buyers of varying purchasing power.

The low cost homes are the result of a 2011 design competition dubbed “One Million House Competition” that saw a prototype by University of Nairobi’s architecture students win the grand prize.

The students recommended the use of bricks, compacted earth and sand as part of the building material so as to keep the cost per unit as low as possible.

“The design will be tweaked to conform to the Kenya building code requirements, but even with any changes into the design the cost per unit will be kept at Sh1 million,” Home Africa said in a past statement.

The Sh1 million value takes into consideration factors such as the cost of land, design cost, legal fees and a portion of the property developer’s profit margin.

Some 50,000 to 80,000 people are expected to reside at Kikwetu when the development is completed.

Mr Ng’ang’a said his firm had embarked on other projects in Kisumu and Kwale as it seeks to take advantage of the housing opportunities in the counties.

Home Afrika is the firm behind Migaa Golf Course, a gated community in Kiambu County offering amenities ranging from golf to gentle bike rides along a myriad of pathways across a 774-acre piece of land.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.