By: Agwanda Saye
The County Government of Kisumu has signed a Letter of Intent with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to advance their partnership for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (PINUA) social housing upgrading programme in Kisumu County.
The initiative, which involves a concurrent investment of Kshs 2.7 billion across Nairobi and Kisumu, is designed to deliver sustainable, inclusive, and community-led development within the county.
The signing ceremony took place in Kisumu between Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, representing the County, and UN-Habitat Executive Director for Kenya, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach. Both parties committed to the project’s implementation.
Programme Focus and Pilot Sites
Governor Nyong’o emphasized that the PINUA partnership specifically targets the less fortunate, reaffirming his commitment to supporting sustainable neighborhoods with essential amenities.
Starting November 1, 2025, the County and UN-Habitat will pilot housing projects in Kibuye Estate, Kisumu, and Muhoroni Sub-County, utilizing approaches developed through public involvement in the beneficiary areas.
The program will improve informal settlements by providing essential social infrastructural development such as schools and sanitation. It will also deliver affordable rental housing with social amenities like early childhood centers and open spaces, while supporting incremental housing models that enable families to gradually build and own decent homes.
Rossbach reaffirmed UN-Habitat’s global mandate to promote transformative change in cities. “For us this partnership is important in the implementation of the newly established plan that focuses on access to housing, [and the] digital transformation of informal settlements for all,” she stated.
Construction Plans in Kibuye and Muhoroni
According to Fred Omenya, UN-Habitat Housing Architect, the pilot phase is set to break ground in January 2026 in Kibuye Estate.
Kibuye Estate: The initial phase will involve demolishing about five blocks to construct two high-rise blocks, starting with two blocks of 24 housing units and eventually totaling 360 affordable one- and two-bedroom rental units owned by the county.
Omenya noted, “We will not flatten the whole of Kibuye Estate, but we will only demolish about five blocks to construct two high-rise blocks which will accommodate half of the residents in 24 units.”
UN-Habitat will cover 100% of the building construction costs, estimated at Kshs 1.8 million for a one-bedroom, Kshs 2.4 million for a two-bedroom, and Kshs 2.7 million for a three-bedroom unit.
Shauri Yako, Muhoroni: This area will employ a different community-enabling approach to facilitate the construction of up to 800 houses of various sizes.
Twenty houses will be provided free of charge to the most vulnerable community members.
The remaining 780 units will be supported through a cooperative financial model, backed by the European Union, which will allow residents to borrow against their savings.