MACHAKOS |The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has announced plans to build 3,000 housing units in Machakos County under a new agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project will cover 150 acres and marks a key phase in the government’s broader housing agenda.
NHC Managing Director David Mathu confirmed the project during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Machakos University. “We plan to inject Ksh 1 billion towards the initial operationalization of the partnership,” Mathu said. He added that the Machakos development forms part of NHC’s strategic plan for 2023 to 2027, which targets over 110,000 new housing units nationwide.
Mathu noted that the Corporation is currently running 17 additional housing projects across Kenya. He emphasized NHC’s commitment to contribute at least 10 percent of the government’s target of one million housing units by 2027.
In the same deal, NHC and Machakos University agreed to build over 3,000 hostel units for students. The university currently accommodates only 500 students on-campus, against a population of 12,000. The new hostels will be built at a cost of Ksh 1 billion.
University Vice Chancellor Prof. Joyce Agalo said the housing shortage had exposed students to insecurity and limited their access to critical ICT and research facilities. “The construction of 3,000 hostel units will help us accommodate more students on the campus from the current 500 units,” Agalo said. She confirmed the project is scheduled for completion within one year.
Speaking during the MOU signing in Naivasha, NHC Board Chair Yusuf Shanzu said public universities are under financial strain and lack sufficient housing. He noted that partnerships like this offer a more affordable alternative to costly private rentals. “This partnership speaks to the right decision,” Shanzu said.
The agreement marks the first of its kind between NHC and a local university. It reflects a push by both institutions to provide sustainable, low-cost housing while tackling the student accommodation crisis in public universities.
The housing project in Machakos aligns with the national Universal Housing Programme, aimed at addressing the housing deficit for both the general public and students across the country. Construction timelines and contractor selection are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
