Kisumu: Kisumu County is advancing its efforts to address the pressing housing needs by implementing a series of projects aimed at combating the urban housing crisis. With a population of approximately 1.1 million, the county government, led by Prof. Peter Anyang` Nyong`o, is working to provide affordable and well-planned housing to mitigate the rise of slums and inadequate living conditions.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county government, in collaboration with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), recently initiated the construction of 164 modern housing units at Milimani Estate, a project valued at Sh. 2.4 billion. This development will feature 102 two-bedroom units and 62 three-bedroom apartments with servant quarters, distributed across nine-storied buildings. The project is set to be completed in nine months and will include key infrastructure enhancements such as upgraded water and sewer systems, paved walkways, and improved security installations.
In addition to the Milimani Estate project, Kisumu County has signed an agreement with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to construct low-cost housing in Kibuye and Muhoroni, valued at Sh. 2.7 billion. This initiative is part of the county’s broader strategy under the Partnership for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (PINUA-1), which aims to promote sustainable urbanization within local authorities, particularly in informal settlements.
Central to the county’s housing strategy is the Lumumba Estate Redevelopment Project, a Sh. 5.2 billion initiative under the national Affordable Housing Programme. This project will deliver 2,384 housing units, divided into 452 social housing units, 1,192 affordable units, and 740 market-rate units. “We are replacing structures that are no longer fit for habitation,” stated Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga, emphasizing the county’s commitment to urban regeneration and providing decent housing.
Kisumu County has also embarked on implementing a City Spatial Plan to guide urban growth and land use. The plan designates specific zones within the city, including Urban Core and Urban Renewal areas. To facilitate development, the county introduced a land-use policy to utilize idle land and recover over Sh80 billion in unpaid land rates. A new ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ rule has been enacted, requiring property owners to develop prime land or risk forfeiting it.
Efforts to improve living conditions extend to informal settlements through the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2), worth Sh1.4 billion. The project targets low-income areas like Nyalenda, Obunga, Manyatta, Kibuye, Kaloleni, and Nyawita, where new roads, drainage, streetlights, and water systems are being constructed.
Despite these initiatives, Abala acknowledges the challenges of managing urbanization, including the need for better coordination across sectors such as housing, transport, and water. Rapid population growth and rural-to-urban migration continue to strain infrastructure and services. Limited funding, weak regulatory enforcement, and balancing the needs of various stakeholders remain significant obstacles, with the goal of ensuring equitable benefits for low- and middle-income residents posing one of the county’s greatest challenges.