The Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works has urged the Affordable Housing Board to protect and prudently manage the Affordable Housing Levy funds and adhere to their mandate.

In a meeting with the Board, the Committee chaired, Emurua Dikirr MP, Hon. Johana Ng'eno Members expressed concerns over delays in developing the five- year and Annual Investment Affordable Housing Programme.

In response, Mr. Cosmas Mutava (Board member) informed the Committee that the delay was occasioned by the institution's recent categorization and that the Board would be concluding the exercise soon.

While sharing their expectations, the Committee directed the Board to enlist all the implementing agencies indicating the number of projects assigned to each, the amount allocated to the agencies and the Board’s priority areas.   

The Committee also emphasized the need for public awareness on the acquisition of affordable housing units while demanding the assurance provided to Kenyans who are ready to pay the deposits for the units.

Hon. Ng'eno underscored the objective of the Fund, stating that the Committee will scrutinize the Affordable Housing regulations to ensure that the process is not discriminatory and the 10 percent mandatory deposit is not in the regulation.

In order to achieve the targets of constructing 200,000 units annually, Members urged the Board to ensure that contractors are not overburdened with multiple projects, noting that it would be prudent to engage local contractors and that no contractor takes more than three projects.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Sheila Waweru assured the Committee of the Board's commitment to fair distribution of housing projects across the country and undertook to ensure there effort is made to increase public awareness.

Acknowledging the Committee's concerns, the Board's Chairperson Mr. Jeremiah Simu said the Board is yet to start new projects and pledged to address the concerns raised by the Committee.