The Government of Kenya through the Kenya Housing Fund is set to roll out a mandatory housing scheme for all workers. The housing scheme targets a minimum of Kshs. 3.4 Billion annually from employers and employers after the housing fund levy was signed into law by the President in the 2018 Finance Bill. provision of low cost housing units is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s big 4 Agenda.
The implementation of the Housing Scheme is geared towards helping the government to deliver 500,000 affordable housing units in 5 years. This is in a bid to curb the expansion of slums in major towns in Kenya: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and other towns. Presently, Kenya as a country requires a minimum of 250,000 housing units annually. Unfortunately, the government and other private developers are able to build about 50,000 housing units. This leaves an unmet demand/ deficit of 200,000 housing units per year.
Under the Affordable housing scheme, employees will contribute 1.5 percent of their monthly basic salaries towards the National Housing Development Fund while the employer tops up with an equal amount; provided that the sum of the employer and employee’s contributions do not exceed Kshs. 5,000 per month. Employees earning over kshs. 166,000 per month will contribute Kshs. 2,500. The housing scheme will be accessed through a tenant purchase scheme for those in the low cost housing bracket. For employees with high income, they will be given mortgages.
STEPS TO OWNING A DECENT HOME UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM
1). Register at https://www.bomayangu.go.ke, https://www.hudumakenya.go.ke, Huduma centres, Huduma kiosks, Huduma life App or *688#. Registration is free.
2). Complete your profile on https://www.bomayangu.go.ke or at a Huduma Centre by uploading, Scanned copy of; a birth certificate, ID and KRA PIN
3). Make regular contributions so as to make a saving towards the mandatory requirement of 12.5% of the value of the house you would wish to be allocated.
4). House allocation will be based on;
i). The authenticity of the information provided.
ii). Completeness of one’s profile.
iii). Consistency in making contributions of the required 12.5% or more of rthe value of the House.
When the customer moves into the house they are required to make monthly payments of the remaining balance for a period not exceeding 25 years so as to have complete ownership of the House.
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