KDF Announces Plan to Build 11,000 Houses

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Defence CS Monica Juma and military generals at the KDF Wellness Centre
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Defence CS Monica Juma and military generals at the KDF Wellness Centre
PSCU

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has unveiled a plan to construct over 11,000 houses for its staff.

A report by Business Daily on Monday, April 5, indicated that KDF was exploring a public-private partnership with investors to develop the housing project valued at Ksh1 billion.

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the investors will be allowed to rent out the houses to KDF for 15 years once construction is completed to recoup their investments.

The houses will then be handed over permanently to KDF in a build-operate-transfer model.

KDF officers during a previous pass-out parade
KDF officers during a previous pass-out parade
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"The Ministry of Defence is faced with a shortfall of accommodation for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). This is particularly the case for the non-commissioned officer cadre of the KDF.

"The immediate need is estimated at 11,200 residential units. Owing to funding constraints, the MoD intends to resolve the housing challenge partly through the use of the PPP project delivery model," reads the document in part.

The project is expected to be carried out in phases with houses expected to be put up at the Roysambu military base along the Nairobi-Thika highway, Nanyuki Military Base and Nakuru, Lanet Military Base.

In the first phase, the force aims at putting up 2,340 with 500 units in Roysambu and 737 in Nanyuki.

This comes even as KDF unveils a raft of other projects including the establishment of its own independent university.

Defence CS Monica Juma, while appearing before MPs in early November 2020, requested the legislators to amend the Education Act to allow the ministry to proceed with the plan.

The National Defence University of Kenya (NDU-K) will teach and certify officers from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), KDF and security personnel from other African countries. 

Juma stated that the move will cut costs for KDF who spend a lot of money certifying and accrediting specialised officers in public universities. 

KDF officers are trained at the National Defence College, Kenya (NDC). The training facility offers courses to senior commanders in the army, navy, air force and special forces. 

Defence Secretary Monica Juma
Defence Secretary Monica Juma
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