Fifty-five percent of Kenyans take on extra work or side hustles to afford housing, placing Kenya among the highest of 22 nations surveyed in a new report by Habitat for Humanity.
Released on World Habitat Day under the UN theme “Adequate Housing for All,” the global survey titled Home at What Cost? highlights the severe financial and personal sacrifices households make to maintain shelter. Across the 22 surveyed countries, the global average for taking on extra work to meet housing expenses sits significantly lower at 31 percent.
In Kenya, where researchers sampled 1,400 adults across varied income levels and informal settlements, 89 percent reported cutting back on at least one expense over the past year to manage housing costs, surpassing the global average of 75 percent.
High Sacrifices and Daily Financial Pressures
Housing costs directly compromise basic necessities for many Kenyan households. Forty percent of respondents reduced food purchases, while half reported dipping into emergency savings to cover shelter costs.
The pressure peaks among renters, where 65 percent take on side hustles and 48 percent cut back on food.
Furthermore, 55 percent of respondents accept housing-related safety risks such as insecure doors, fragile boundaries, or weather vulnerabilities because safer housing remains unaffordable or unavailable.
“Housing is more than shelter. It can be a foundation for health, economic opportunity, climate resilience, and inclusive urban development,” said Abi Riak, Vice President for Habitat for Humanity in Africa. “No family should have to choose between paying for housing and paying for food, education, or healthcare.”
Impact on Life Decisions and Community Well-Being
Housing pressures shape major long-term choices across the country. Sixty-two percent of Kenyans say housing costs make it difficult to consider starting a family, compared to 56 percent globally. Among parents, 61 percent report that housing expenses limit opportunities for their children, and 45 percent have abandoned personal aspirations due to their housing situation.
Tenure insecurity also weighs heavily on residents. Only 72 percent feel secure in their right to remain in their homes (versus 86 percent globally), while 55 percent fear an unexpected financial shock could cause housing loss.
Kenya currently faces an estimated annual demand of 250,000 housing units against a production of roughly 50,000, creating a deficit exceeding two million homes.
High Optimism and Policy Confidence
Despite current struggles, Kenyans demonstrate notable optimism for future improvements. Eighty-eight percent of respondents expect their housing situation to improve within the next three years, making Kenya one of the most optimistic nations surveyed.
Additionally, 96 percent agree that safe, reliable housing supports mental health, while 94 percent believe stable housing builds stronger communities.
Only 44 percent view the broader housing system as broken (compared to 56 percent globally), while 39 percent view government housing policies as effective (versus 34 percent globally). Kenya’s housing rights remain anchored in its Constitution, the National Housing Policy, and the Affordable Housing Act of 2024.
However, the survey found that many households still struggle to benefit from policy commitments, particularly those dealing with high living costs, flooding, poor drainage, inadequate sanitation, overcrowding, and other climate-related risks.
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