According to the World Bank, Kenyans living in informal settlements are not benefiting from newly built homes because those initiatives only target 2% of them.
The bank states in its assessment for the private sector’s development that people living in these regions face a significant risk of contracting infectious diseases including malaria and cholera.
As a result of this issue, the government has taken action through the affordable housing program to raise the living standards of its people while also reducing the housing shortage and tackling inequality. According to data from Habitat for Humanity, Kenya has an annual housing demand of 250,000 units and an estimated supply of 50,000 units, resulting in a two million unit housing deficit, or an 80% gap.
The Kenya Kwanza government has restated its plans to accelerate the project’s delivery by creating 200,000 units annually, despite the fact that the previous administration fell short of its aim under the affordable housing strategy to build 500,000 units by 2022.
In order to give a more focused and effective approach to housing creation, management, and finance, the World Bank is asking for the inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) into the program. According to the article, developing countries can address the issue of unrestricted access to housing, particularly for the informal sector, by doing this.