Homa Bay housing project earns Africa's first green building certification

 A housing project in Homa Bay has become the first in Africa to receive certification for meeting green building standards.

 Boma Yangu Estate, located a few kilometres from Homa Bay town on the Homa Bay Kendu Bay road, received the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification.

 The certificate recognises buildings that cut energy and water use and reduce carbon in materials.

 The estate was built to lower electricity and cooling use through natural light and ventilation.

 Thomas Ofwa, engineer in charge of the project, said the design reduces energy use by 30 per cent, water use by 37 per cent and embodied energy in materials by over 50 per cent.

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 “We installed solar lights in shared areas and tap aerators to limit water use,” he said.

 The first phase includes 110 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, with President William Ruto set to hand over the keys to homeowners.

 Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the programme has moved from idea to delivery.

 “What started as a programme is now a reality, with Kenyans becoming affordable housing homeowners,” said Hinga, adding, “This is not just about a roof and a wall, it is about providing dignified living standards for all Kenyans regardless of their socio-economic status, even as the government creates consumptive demand for the manufacturing sector.”

 The project was carried out by the National Housing Corporation and the Homa Bay County Government with about 2,000 people employed during the construction.

 Local artisans earned Sh11 million from door and window supply. Women’s groups received Sh1 million for landscaping.

 The estate is planned to reach 2,000 units on 11 acres in Makongeni. The next phase will test whether affordability can be maintained.