Senator Miraj Abdillahi, a member of the Senate’s Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, has urged county assemblies to take a more active and structured role in Kenya’s affordable housing agenda, emphasizing oversight, equity and intergovernmental coordination as critical to delivering sustainable urban development.

While contributing as during as a panelist at the Legislative summit, held at the Sapphire Hotel, Mombasa on “Affordable Housing and Urban Development: County Assemblies’ Role in Kenya’s Housing Transformation,” Senator Miraj positioned housing as both a national priority and a devolved responsibility that requires alignment between the Senate and county governments.

She outlined the scale of the housing challenge, noting that the deficit remains significant both globally and locally, with Kenya facing an annual shortfall of nearly two million housing units. This, she said, explains why affordable housing has been fast-tracked as a key policy pillar.

Senator Miraj emphasized the Senate’s constitutional role as both protector and facilitator of county governments, stressing that effective implementation of housing projects must respect devolved functions. “County assemblies are the primary oversight bodies, while the Senate provides secondary oversight. These roles must complement each other to ensure accountability without undermining county mandates,” she said.

She highlighted key legislative frameworks supporting the programme, including the Affordable Housing Act 2024, Land Amendment Act 2025, and related regulations, noting that these laws are intended to streamline implementation while safeguarding county interests.

A central proposal in her remarks was the establishment of joint oversight mechanisms between the Senate and county assemblies. She called for structured collaboration through joint committees, shared information systems, and coordinated site visits to monitor projects, track use of housing levies, and oversee public-private partnerships.

Senator Miraj also raised concerns about equity and inclusion, particularly for communities living on ancestral land. She cautioned that without clear allocation frameworks, housing units risk being taken up by those outside local communities. “County assemblies must legislate to protect vulnerable groups and ensure fair access to housing,” she said.

Drawing from recent engagements, including collaboration with Nairobi County, she pointed to emerging safeguards such as commitments to resettle displaced residents without additional cost, describing them as practical steps toward inclusive implementation.

She concluded by calling for stronger public participation and better coordination across levels of government, noting that the success of the housing programme will depend not just on policy, but on how effectively institutions work together to deliver for citizens.