Procurement law set for review to boost housing

Housing, Urban Development and Public Works Principal Secretary Charles Mwaura Hinga has called for the amendment of procurement laws to enable the government realise the affordable housing agenda.

Addressing professionals in the construction industry during the inaugural Construction Industry Awards (COINA) 2018, held at Carnivore Simba Saloon over the weekend, the PS said current procurement laws and procedures have created numerous bottlenecks, slowing down the process, and called for an overhaul. He  said it would take more than 45 days to initiate the process.

The PS said that his ministry was in talks with the National Treasury to review the procurement rules, noting that housing was a joint venture between the government and developers and there was need to apply a different method.

 “We also putting in place qualification criteria that will see developers make a commitment fee to the development cost of the houses so that we can get rid of the so called middlemen, brokers and people who around this country as developers,” he said.

He said his ministry was putting together a joint venture framework and a comprehensive development framework.

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The awards’ chief judge, Emma Miloyo, who also doubles as the president of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), said the architects should be at the forefront to celebrate buildings and challenged participants to help the country achieve affordable and descent housing for all Kenyans.

“I want to challenge every developer in this country to move away from profits mind-set when there numerous slums in the country particularly urban areas. We must not be consumed by greed, instead work together for the benefit for the country,” she said.

A recent World Bank report states that out of the 250,000 house units annual demand, only 50,000 units are constructed, leaving the country with a deficit of over 200,000 houses.

Ms Abigael Jorgensen, Business Development Manager at Tuffsteel Ltd, which sponsored the event,  said the company is committed to setting standards through product innovations and technology. She said Tuffsteel has been operating as a one-stop shop solution for quality building and construction related materials such as cement, steel products, wire products, pipes and tubes, water tanks or nails.

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She added that the firm’s vast logistics network comprising over 100 trucks that include trailers, cement bulkers, concrete ready mix transit trucks and FH’s, enables easy delivery of products to any location in the country.

“As stakeholders we are more than excited and willing to support the government in providing affordable housing as this will open up numerous employment opportunities to the youth and grow the construction industry tenfold,” said .Crown Paints Ltd General Manager for construction Abhijit Roy. Crown is celebrating 60 years since setting shop in Kenya.