Muzi Stawi Sets New Standard For Housing In Kenya

Kenya’s first affordable green housing project is nearing completion at Nairobi’s Garden City, marking a milestone in efforts to deliver sustainable and cost-efficient homes to urban residents.

Dubbed Muzi Stawi, the development—led by IHS Kenya with support from its Green Housing Fund—is now 90 per cent complete and on track for completion next month.

Muzi Stawi, under construction since January 2024, will deliver 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments designed to meet green standards for energy efficiency and lower utility costs.

The apartments will be available for rent on the open market, targeting Nairobi’s growing population of low- and middle-income earners.

Kenya faces a severe housing shortage, particularly in urban areas. According to census data, more than seven million of the country’s 12 million households live in towns and cities, with the majority in informal settlements.

Rising costs have left millions priced out of formal housing.

“With housing costs rising, we are working with experts, planners, and policymakers to improve living conditions, reduce energy costs, and support climate-friendly urban growth,” said Edward Claessen, head of the European Investment Bank’s Eastern Africa office.

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The EIB, through its development arm EIB Global, has committed Sh3.2 billion in equity financing to IHS Kenya’s Green Housing Fund, which is driving projects like Muzi Stawi.

IHS Kenya Managing Director Kioi Wambaa said the fund’s vision is to redefine the meaning of affordable housing. 

“Our investments reflect our ambition to redefine what affordable housing can be. We are on track to deliver about 4,000 quality and affordable green homes by 2030,” he said.

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Muzi Stawi is the first of three developments under construction in Nairobi, which together account for 664 units. Ten more projects, totalling over 2,600 homes, are in the pipeline in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

In Nairobi, the nearing completion of the development marks a move toward environmentally conscious urban housing. The project could meet housing demand, cut energy costs, and integrate sustainable design into affordable homes. 

If successful, Muzi Stawi could serve as a model for scaling up green-certified developments across Kenya’s rapidly urbanising counties.

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