Shelter Afrique recognized for its efforts towards Affordable housing in Kenya

The Town and County Planners Association of Kenya (TCPAK) has conferred Pan African Housing Financier, Shelter Afrique with the Town and County Excellence Award.

The Award was in recognition of the Company’s contribution to the provision of affordable housing and reduction of slum dwelling in Kenya and across Africa.

Handing over the award certificate to Shelter Afrique’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chimphondah, Town and County Planners Association of Kenya Chairman Mr. Mairura Omwenga lauded Shelter Afrique for its efforts to bring to the forefront the affordable housing agenda across Africa and the investments the company has made in its efforts to improve quality of housing in Africa.

“We are pleased to confer the Town and County Excellence Award to Shelter Afrique for its efforts towards making our towns better places to live. We hope this Award will encourage Shelter Afrique to do even more as it focuses its efforts towards meeting the needs of the continent’s rapidly growing population,” Mr. Omwenga said.

“In the current constitution towns and counties have been given a prominent role as the centers for economic growth and development and this Award have been designed to encourage planning and development of sustainable cities,” Mr. Omwenga added.  

Shelter Afrique’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chimphondah on his part said that the Company recognizes the scourge of rapid urbanization, which has resulted in more slums, and as such has made the provision of affordable housing through strategic partnerships its key priority.

“We are humbled and we feel privileged to be conferred with this award in recognition of work across Africa. We are encouraged to continue focusing on our mandate of providing affordable homes in Afrique, which is in line with United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No 11 which focuses on sustainable cities and communities,” Mr. Chimphondah said.

Shelter Afrique has a number of initiatives geared towards enhancing housing affordability across Africa. In Kenya, for instance, the Company has partnered with the government and the UN-Habitat to develop a social housing scheme within Mavoko Municipality under the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP) and is also supporting the Pan African slum eradication program in Uganda.

The Company has also invested in the mortgage refinance companies in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Togo. The Company has also signed memoranda of understanding with the governments of Liberia, Ivory Coast, and the Central Africa Republic for the provision of affordable houses through public-private partnerships structured by Shelter Afrique.

Town and County Planners Association of Kenya (TCPAK) is a corporate body comprising town, county, and country planners, urban and regional planners, physical planners. The Association promotes professional development, education, public awareness, sustainable development and the protection and conservation of the built and natural environment.