Absa Bank Kenya has partnered with International Housing Solutions (IHS) Kenya as the title sponsor of the 2nd IHS Kenya Affordable Housing Conference, reinforcing its commitment to unlock scalable solutions that can accelerate housing delivery and expand homeownership across the country.
The conference, taking place on Thursday, 10th June, 2026, will bring together developers, financiers, policymakers, and investors to tackle the structural bottlenecks slowing affordable housing delivery and explore practical pathways to scale, a conversation that has become increasingly urgent given the size of Kenya’s housing deficit.
Kenya currently faces a shortfall of over two million housing units, with annual demand rising by between 200,000 and 250,000 units against a supply of fewer than 50,000, a gap that continues to widen year on year.
Absa Bank Kenya Managing Executive for Corporate and Investment Banking James Agin said the challenge goes far beyond construction and requires coordinated action across financing, infrastructure, and urban planning.
“Affordable housing is central to economic inclusion, productivity and urban resilience. As cities grow, housing systems must evolve to support sustainable and inclusive development,” he said.
Agin noted that affordability pressures set in early in the development cycle, driven by high land costs, infrastructure burdens, financing constraints, and long project timelines, challenges that affect both developers and prospective homeowners alike.
Through its Real Estate Finance business, Absa said it is working across the housing value chain to improve project viability, strengthen developer-offtake linkages, and expand mortgage readiness so that buyers can access financing earlier in the process.
The bank is also developing financing models tailored for informal and non-traditional income segments that are often underserved by conventional mortgage products.
“Delivering affordable housing at scale will depend on how effectively we connect capital, expertise and execution across the ecosystem. Stronger collaboration will be critical to unlocking commercially viable, inclusive solutions,” Agin added.
The conference is part of ongoing efforts by Absa and IHS Kenya to drive partnerships, innovation, and investment toward building more inclusive and resilient urban communities.
