Commonwealth Housing Trust is supporting families relocating from the Korogocho slum in Nairobi to a new two-acre greenfield site in Kamulu, Nairobi, where the Trust has purchased land and secured planning consent for a community of self-built homes.
Korogocho is one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements and is home to more than 200,000 people living in extremely challenging conditions. The area has no sanitation, electricity, or running water, and is heavily affected by infectious disease. Pollution from a neighbouring municipal waste site is caused by smoke from ongoing fires which frequently hangs over the community. Crime and drug-related issues are also widespread, creating an unsafe environment for many families.
In response, the residents formed a self-help community group known as MWAMKO, which is now formally registered as a Housing Association. The organisation will lease the newly built homes to MWAMKO members at affordable rents, helping families establish safer and more stable lives.
Young people from MWAMKO families have received training in construction and building skills through support from UN-Habitat and work experience programmes linked to the project. Professional guidance and quality assurance have been provided by the Commonwealth Housing Group (CHG), the Kenyan arm of Commonwealth Housing Trust, with work independently signed off by Kenya RICS surveyors.
Alongside raising funds for the development, Commonwealth Housing Trust maintains close collaboration with the CHG Board and the local Project Manager through regular online meetings and site visits.
While the project’s primary aim is to provide safe, self-built housing for former slum residents, the wider social benefits have already been significant. Families are now part of a safer and more supportive community, many residents have gained valuable employment skills, and children are attending local schools.
Although the initial homes were connected to the mains electricity supply, local grid capacity restrictions mean that several properties are still without reliable power.
“We were deeply moved by the positive impact this project is having on families in Kamulu. We believe everyone deserves access to safe housing, reliable energy and the opportunity to build a better future. Supporting the installation of off-grid solar and battery systems was a natural fit for us as Prefect is a company focused on energy management and improving living environments.
As a family-run business, we are proud to support initiatives that create lasting change for communities. Knowing these homes will soon have dependable electricity for lighting, safety, education and everyday life means a great deal to us all. Personally, I’m honoured that the success of Prefect enables us to play a part in such an inspiring project.”
Will Mills – Managing Director, Prefect Controls
To address this challenge, Prefect Controls, a UK-based manufacturer and supplier of energy management and safety systems for shared living environments, has generously donated funding for off-grid solar panels, inverters and battery storage systems. These installations are due to be commissioned shortly, providing reliable electricity to the remaining homes.
