The national government’s agenda on housing seems to have awakened new dreams and aspirations of Kenyans hoping to buy properties at the Coast, with many of them now targeting Kilifi as one of the most attractive counties for real estate development in the region.
The county known also for its tourists’ destination in Coast has attracted even property developers hoping to cash in on the enormous demand for land and housing in Mombasa and Kilifi.
The developers were hoping also to provide more space and opportunities for Kenyans out to own quality and affordable houses, particularly along the coastal sand beaches in line with the government agenda.
Inuka Afrika Properties Ltd, one of the property developers with vast interests and innovation in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties housing development sector was seen to be putting up a spirited move with anticipated focus of getting more people into the bracket of becoming home and property owners in the region.
The organization is involved in buying and selling of land, housing construction, letting and estate management and aims at being a hub for showcasing innovations, technology and sustainable solutions available for all consumers regardless of their income bracket.
According to the firm management, the government’s key priority on affordable Housing remains a clear focal point for them as property developers to realign them to meet the growing demand for land and housing among people living at the coast.
Joseph Mbugua, the firm’s Executive Director termed the national government’s housing agenda as a drastic move to address historical land ownership problems in order to enhance faster growth in the housing sector in coastal counties.
He said the demand for affordable commercial and residential facilities is growing the in counties and called on developers to seek professional advice to avoid falling prey to quacks in the housing sector.
“Coastal region has been at risk for quite some time following on the issue of integrity because most plots for sale in Mombasa lack the right documents. However, companies like Inuka Afrika Properties Limited have come in to change the face of real estate in the region” said Mbugua in an interview with KNA Saturday.
Mbugua said currently Inuka Afrika Properties has lined up more than seven housing development projects in Kilifi alone for potential buyers.
The real estate developer also seeks to roll out descent low cost housing units which meet building regulations in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale.
He said the company that started operations three years ago caries out due diligence and only sells land with title deeds to prospective buyers.
The director said so far they have undertaken 50 projects and issued 1,000 tile deeds to the new land owners who only need to pay 50 per cent of the land value and pay the rest in installments in three to six months period.
“We realized that there are land cartels in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale who orchestrate land invasions which is a breach of the law,” he said, adding that they also fence parcels of the plots before selling to the prospective buyers to keep off land grabbers.
He said their new investments fits well into the national government’s plan on matters to do with housing, which he said is a key pillar in the big four agenda of food security, affordable housing, universal healthcare and manufacturing.
However, the real estate firm has embarked on innovation of its programs and trust building among potential land and home owners to demystify the historical myths on land ownership which has kept many Kenyans away from buying land in coast particularly in Kilifi and Mombasa.
“The company takes potential buyers through the process of buying land at the coast in the most transparent and accountable way. Before we take any buyers money we make sure they get their title deed beforehand,” Mbugua said.
Ruth Mueni the General Manger for Inuka Afrika Properties Ltd said they are now involved in projects that include the 10 acres Inuka Homes in Msabaha in Malindi, Chakama Gardens, Inuka Gardens, Inuka Mtwapa Gardens and Bofa Gardens in Kilifi, all going for between Sh300,000 to Sh950, 000 in 70 by 100 plots.
She said the ongoing real estate projects all in the larger Kilifi County are ideal for residential and commercial purposes.
Emathiu Kimani the project manager said as part of the value addition they ensure that the plots of land for sale have access roads, water and electricity.
He admitted that the issue of housing for middle and low income groups who are the majority was still a problem in the country.
In the long run, the affordable housing plan championed by the national government will see 20,000 houses constructed in Mombasa alone.
The affordable and low cost housing programme seeks to give accommodation to over six million Kenyans living in informal settlements, create jobs for the youth and generally stimulate the economy.
A report released in 2017 by World Bank indicated that the main cause of housing deficit in Kenya is the high rate of rural-urban migration and population growth versus few housing units that are built annually.
By Hussein Abdullahi
