Homes Expo begins today 

The Blue Triangle Cement Kenya Homes Expo, which is marking its Jubilee this month, runs from 10:30am today until Sunday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. 

This year’s theme, “Bridging the Gap” is informed by the fact that, as much as there are homes and land for sale,  they should be affordable for the average Kenyan.

The exhibition will feature a collection of innovative products mainly tailored for  low- to middle-income earners.

This follows the realisation that most of the houses built in the last four or so years are unaffordable to most Kenyans. Providing housing is  a great challenge to the government, and private developers are keen on providing housing for this segment, with government support.

The expo comes amid the encouraging news that, instead of the predicted burst of the real estate bubble, it is changing shape, becoming more innovative and accommodative. Professionals in the real estate market  credit this  for the development of satellite cities such as Kikuyu, Ruiru, Thika, Syokimau, Ngong, Ongata Rongai, and now going as far as Kitengela, Athi River, Mwiki, and Komarock, among the areas that were shunned by many people only a few years ago.

They attribute this growth to the availability, and lower cost of land in these areas, which give the middle class an opportunity to own decent homes. Besides, the ongoing infrastructural developments will improve transport.

Thus the focus has quickly turned to the people who fall between the low- and middle-income segment to provide them with comfortable living environments. 

Since 2011, the real estate sector has registered a steady 30 per cent growth, Mr Daniel Ojijo, the Chairman of Homes Universal, says,  adding that there is a general demand for residential housing in the upcoming satellite towns as well as opportunities to invest in land for those who cannot start building immediately.