Written By Faith Mwende
The Kenyan government has begun seeking financial assistance from international partners, including the World Bank and the European Union, to fund the removal of asbestos roofing materials from housing units nationwide.
This comes after Cabinet approval to phase out the decades-old, cancer-causing asbestos and replace it with safer, eco-friendly alternatives.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the government has committed to eliminating asbestos, but the process is both complex and expensive.
“We have made the decision to remove asbestos, but it’s not something that can be done like replacing iron sheets. It requires experts trained in handling hazardous material, and NEMA is overseeing the exercise,” he explained.
Hinga noted that more than 120,000 housing units under the State Department for Housing still contain asbestos roofs, requiring both substantial funding and technical expertise for safe removal. He emphasized that the government is in talks with global financiers to help meet these costs.
Speaking during a tree-planting event at Naivasha Boarding Primary School on Friday, Hinga said the affordable housing agenda remains on track. He revealed that over 257,000 housing units are currently under construction across the country, providing daily employment to more than 300,000 Kenyans.
He added that an additional 147,000 student housing units are being developed to address shortages in educational institutions.
According to the PS, the housing initiative aims to restore dignity and improve living conditions for more than seven million Kenyans residing in informal settlements.
Hinga acknowledged that housing challenges extend beyond Kenya, with an estimated 1.6 billion people globally living in slums. He noted that Kenya’s affordable housing model has earned recognition both within Africa and internationally, partly due to the housing levy that funds ongoing projects.
The PS dismissed claims of political interference in the programme, stressing that the initiative is focused on social transformation and improving lives.
During the event, Hinga also highlighted the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, citing the devastating impacts of prolonged droughts and floods linked to climate change.
He lauded President William Ruto’s directive to set up 300 tree-growing sites, supported by the Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service, to supply seedlings for the 15-billion-tree campaign targeted for completion by 2032.
