Kisumu's skyline with upcoming highrise flats replacing the old buildings.
For someone who last visited Kisumu City 15 years ago, navigating the city today can be a daunting task.
Tall apartment blocks have mushroomed to replace the colonial bungalows that once dotted every corner of the city.
The old community houses that were built several decades ago, but stood the test of time, have since been demolished and their places taken by multi-storey apartments as both the national and county governments seek to ease the pressure and demand for modern, affordable housing.
The demand for new housing units, especially in urban areas, has been estimated at 250,000 units per year against an estimated supply of 50,000 units.
Alarmingly, 49,000 of these units are for the upper-middle and high-end markets, leaving only 1,000 units for the low-income segment.
Kisumu's skyline with upcoming highrise flats replacing the old buildings.
A tour of Kisumu City reveals flats and apartments up to 10 storeys high in areas where no one would ever have imagined a high-rise residential building. They can be found in estates such as Lumumba, Makasembo and Anderson Ofafa.
The new and upcoming buildings are already symbolic of Kisumu's growth and modernisation - a testament to the city's future ambitions.
Areas around the city centre and its environs have now been transformed into 'forests' of high-rise buildings, giving Kisumu's skyline a modern and attractive look and offering panoramic views of the entire city and Lake Victoria.
This was not the experience many of the Gen Xers had when they were growing up, as most of the estates consisted of small, old, dilapidated bungalows, with some, like Anderson Estate, disparagingly equated to horse stables.
But now Anderson Ofafa Estate is one of the new, modern structures that have sprung up after the old houses were demolished to make way for the government's much-hyped affordable housing scheme.
Rogers Ouma remembers living in Anderson for several years and how tiny the houses were.
“We used to enjoy our lives there. I remember how getting to the bus park was just a few minutes’ walk from my school. But now I have no regrets, the houses coming up there only reminds us of the beautiful experiences we had,” said Mr Ouma.
Kisumu's skyline with upcoming highrise flats replacing the old buildings.
As an adult, he had a shop on the side of the road, the same spot now earmarked for new commercial buildings and shops.
In recent years, the Kisumu County government has embarked on the construction of 1,200 units of affordable housing, wiping out some of the iconic estates that bear the rich history of Port Florence, as Kisumu was known during colonial times.
The Sh5 billion housing project is a joint venture between the Local Authorities Pension Trust (LAPTRUST), the County Pension Fund (CPF), Laser Property Services and the Kisumu County Government.
As Kisumu continues to experience exponential urban and population growth, so does the demand for housing.
According to Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, the housing project, which is being fast-tracked, will provide quality housing units that will significantly change the landscape of the city.
"The residents of the soon to be Ofafa Park (Estate) will have access to an unparalleled range of services designed to exceed the highest expectations. The concept of street commerce, which is at the heart of Kisumu City’s economy, has been embedded in the proposed projects by providing retail shops along the major access roads," said Governor Nyong’o.
Modern amenities include a residents' lounge, landscaped gardens, piped gas, power back-up for the entire development, borehole water supply, and laundry facilities.
Others are water storage facilities, satellite TV, fibre optic infrastructure, CCTV surveillance, facilities for management staff and secure parking for residents and visitors.
Kisumu's skyline with upcoming highrise flats replacing the old buildings.
The county government also negotiated with the national government to build 480 units on the site of the former Lumumba Estate.
The old Lumumba Estate, flattened by bulldozers, marked the end of the once-popular 'red brick wall estate', built in 1961 and home to prominent figures in pre- and post-colonial Kenya.
While the demolition put the final nail in the coffin of the iconic estate, named after former DRC Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, the bright side is that construction of some 480 units is already underway.
Within walking distance of Anderson Ofafa and Lumumba Estate is Makasembo Estate, another new development with a total of 1,870 units, ample parking for over 1,754 vehicles, a pre-school, landscaped gardens, play areas and commercial space.
It is in a prime location with easy access to all major amenities, including the Kisumu International Airport, the central business district, Kisumu National Polytechnic and Moi Stadium, among others.
The buildings, which are at the completion stage, comprise one, two and three bedroom units with high speed lifts providing easy access to over 10 floors in each of the four blocks. It is one of the largest residential developments in Kenya.
The Makasembo project is being undertaken by the Local Authorities Pension Fund (LAPFUND).
The old estates, which do not yet conform to the new designs, are slowly being overtaken by high-rise buildings as the demand for housing continues to rise due to population growth.
These include Patel Flats, Robert Ouko, Usaid, Okore, Moscow, Kibuye, Nyalenda Railways, Arina and Mathews Ondiek Estates.
But the county government is currently engaging partners to demolish most of them and transform them into standard residential areas with modern houses under the national government's affordable housing project.
“Further negotiations are ongoing with the National Housing Corporation over a debt swap to free Ondiek Estate for the development of more affordable housing units,” said Governor Nyong’o.
But over the years, other estates have sprung up within Kisumu as modern homes for the middle class. Areas traditionally dotted with bungalows and single-family houses are now dotted with flats ranging from two to five storeys.
These are mostly found in Lolwe, Gudka, Ogango, Nubian and Polyview estates, whose populations are growing at a tremendous rate.
Polyview, for example, was once known as 'Makaburini' (cemetery), and no one in the 80s and 90s could have imagined that it would one day become a decent place to live.
While the demand for housing is still not fully met, it is now easy to find a place to rent in most of the flats.
“Several years back, one would be forced to put up with a relative in case they were new in town due to the scarcity of houses to rent, but nowadays you can’t miss a space to rent, even for business. Students attending classes in the local universities and colleges can easily take a one-bedroom apartment and cost share,” says Mr Fidel Castro Anam, a Kisumu resident.
Other areas where high-rise residential apartments have mushroomed are Trans lake, National Housing, Ogango, Elgon, High-rise, Ruby Court, Grace Ogot, Barack Obama and Mountain View estates, and , Makuti area along the Kisumu-Kakamega road.
Other high-rise buildings have also been spotted in the posh Milimani estate.
roudia@ke.nationmedia.com
