Kenyans are making painful sacrifices to afford housing, with many cutting spending on basic needs to save money to build dream homes.
A new study by Habitat for Humanity has found that 89 per cent of Kenyans cut back on at least one expense in the past year to meet housing costs, with some turning to savings or additional work to stay afloat.
The findings are contained in the Home at What Cost? report released to coincide with World Habitat Day. The research surveyed 1,400 people in Kenya as part of a global survey covering 22 countries.
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Eileen Mokaya, national director of Habitat for Humanity Kenya, said the findings showed that housing affordability remained a major challenge for families across the country.
“Every family deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home yet for too many Kenyans, housing affordability remains a daily challenge that forces difficult choices between shelter and other essential needs,” Mokaya said.
Some 55 per cent of respondents had taken on additional income-generating work to meet housing costs, the highest proportion recorded among the countries surveyed.
Half of the respondents said they had used savings or emergency funds to pay for housing, while 40 per cent had reduced spending on food.
The pressure was particularly acute among renters, with 48 per cent reporting that they had cut back on food and 65 per cent taking on additional work to afford housing.
The sacrifices were also affecting major life decisions, with 62 per cent saying housing costs made it difficult to consider starting a family.
Among parents, 61 per cent said housing costs were limiting opportunities for their children, while 45 per cent reported giving up personal aspirations because of their housing situation.
Despite the financial strain, Kenyans remained among the most optimistic respondents about their housing future. Eighty-eight per cent expected their housing situation to improve within the next three years.
An even higher proportion, 94 per cent, expected to own a home at some point in their lives compared with a global average of 76 per cent.
However, the optimism contrasted with widespread insecurity, with 55 per cent saying they feared one unexpected problem could threaten their ability to remain housed.
The figure rose to 71 per cent among people living in informal housing arrangements, highlighting the vulnerability of households without secure housing.
Only 72 per cent of Kenyans said they felt secure in their right to remain where they lived compared with 86 per cent globally, while 44 per cent were dissatisfied with their current housing situation.
Mokaya said the findings called for greater collaboration among government, communities, the private sector and development partners to address the housing challenge.
“The findings reinforce the need for collaborative efforts by government, private sector, communities, and development partners to expand access to affordable, adequate, and resilient housing for all,” she said.
Safety was another major concern, with 55 per cent of respondents saying they accepted housing-related safety risks because safer alternatives were either unaffordable or unavailable.
The survey found that 44 per cent struggled to feel safe because of insecure doors, windows or boundaries, compared with 32 per cent globally.
The problem was more pronounced among people living in informal arrangements, where 66 per cent cited insecure doors or windows and 52 per cent said extreme weather affected their sense of safety.
Housing was also identified as a major source of stress by 41 per cent of respondents, compared with a global average of 35 per cent.
Some 96 per cent agreed that safe and reliable housing supports mental health, while 94 per cent said stable housing helps build stronger communities.
The findings come against the backdrop of a housing deficit estimated at more than two million units. Kenya requires about 250,000 new housing units annually but produces only about 50,000.
Habitat for Humanity said the gap had left many families exposed to overcrowding, poor drainage, inadequate sanitation, flooding and homes that are unable to withstand climate-related shocks.
The organisation is implementing a climate-smart housing initiative that combines resilient construction technologies, improved sanitation, accessible designs and community participation.
The approach seeks to adapt housing designs and construction methods to local environmental risks while improving the quality and safety of homes.
The initiative also equips local artisans, contractors and community members with skills to support resilient housing solutions.
The study found that 84 per cent of Kenyans would welcome more affordable housing in their communities, pointing to strong public demand for solutions that can ease the cost of shelter.
Kenya has a housing policy and legal framework anchored in the Constitution, which recognises access to adequate housing and reasonable standards of sanitation as a fundamental right.
The Affordable Housing Act, 2024, also established a financing mechanism for affordable housing and provides for social, affordable and rural housing.
However, the findings suggest that policy commitments have yet to translate into adequate improvements in affordability, security and housing quality for many households.
Mokaya said expanding access to affordable, adequate and secure housing would be critical in ensuring that Kenyans' optimism about their housing future translates into improved wellbeing and economic opportunities.
