The Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works has called on the government to address the challenges hindering Kenyans from registering and owning homes under the Boma Yangu Affordable Housing Program.

In a meeting with the officials from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the Committee raised the practicability of the online platform, noting that there must be a seamless way of owning affordable houses by Kenyans.

The Committee’s Vice Chairperson and Acting Chairperson, Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi (Buuri), emphasized the need for clear communication to the public on house ownership under the program.

“You have to relay accurate information to the public. For instance, can a person living in Kisumu own a House in Meru? You must assure Kenyans of ownership and the safety of their funds,” Hon. Rindikiri said. 

Members of the Committee also questioned the visibility component of Boma Yangu platform, urging the Department to enlist content creators and media personalities who can enhance awareness including the payment model.

Concerns were further raised over delays in the issuance of sectional title deeds to the owners and numbering of housing units, which the Committee recommended should be conducted progressively and separately for each project to improve efficiency.

Responding to the Committee’s concerns, the acting Chief Executive Officer for Affordable Housing Board, Mr. Joseph Kagicha Shared the Board’s ambitious plans to market the affordable housing.

“We will soon launch country wide activations starting with Nairobi so that we bring more beneficiaries on board. We haven’t done sufficiently but there’s a lot of work we are doing behind the scenes,” said Mr. Kagicha.

Mr. Kagicha assured the Committee that the Board will spend sleepless nights to address all concerns in the next 15 days and plans to hold an online webinar to take MPS through Boma Yangu Affordable Housing Program.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Housing & Urban Development Mr. Charles Hinga reaffirmed that Kenyans are free to own houses in any part of the country.

“Under article 40 of the Constitution of Kenya, every person has a right to own and acquire property in any part of the country and it does not matter where you live or come from within Kenya,” PS Hinga said.

PS Hinga acknowledged existing challenges with the Boma Yangu platform, stating that currently there’s no existing app in place for Boma Yangu but assured the Committee that plans are underway to fix all the platform’s teething problems.

On savings made through the platform for house ownership, PS Hinga revealed that the State Department has partnered with Safaricom to develop a platform that will allow contributors to withdraw their money if they opt out of the program.

“What you are saving towards house ownership is your money. We are putting in place a platform with Safaricom to allow Kenyans withdraw their funds,” he said.

Addressing delays in issuance of sectional title deeds, the PS assured the Committee that plans are underway to ensure that home owners are issued with deeds, noting that the delays were occasioned by the long process of transferring the mother titles to the Affordable Housing Board for the Board to issue the deeds to house owners.

“The law is binding us and we now have a path. We already have a legal opinion from the Office of the Attorney General on transfer of mother titles. The head of Public Service is holding meetings to confirm when titles are being transferred,” the PS said.

However, members of the Committee urged the State Department of Housing & Urban Development to benchmark with best practices with a country like Dubai where property owners are issued with the title deeds instantly.