NAIROBI, Kenya, July 16 – More than 50,000 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel will access subsidised mortgages at a four percent interest rate under a new housing programme rolled out through a partnership between KCB Bank Kenya, the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, and the Ministry of Defence.
The programme brings KDF personnel into the Civil Servants Housing Mortgage Scheme, allowing them to buy completed homes and plots, construct houses, complete ongoing projects and transfer mortgages from other financial institutions through low-interest financing.
The initiative comes as the government steps up affordable housing for security agencies, having already invested more than Sh25 billion in KDF housing projects, with a third phase currently underway.
KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Anastacia Kimtai said the programme will expand access to affordable housing finance for one of the country’s largest public sector workforces.
“The onboarding of more than 50,000 active KDF personnel presents a significant milestone in broadening access to affordable housing finance,” Kimtai said.
“We are offering financing for the purchase of existing homes, acquisition of plots, construction of residential houses and mortgage takeovers from other financial institutions.”
She added that the bank will also provide financial literacy and wealth creation advisory services to help officers build long-term financial security.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said owning a home should be viewed as a long-term investment that strengthens financial stability.
“The day you own a house, or at least you have a house that you are paying towards, your conversation changes because you can walk to the bank and ask for a facility not just against your income but against your asset,” Hinga said.
Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri said the programme will improve the welfare of service members while allowing them to focus on their duties.
“The profession of arms demands sacrifice. Our personnel serve wherever duty calls them, often away from their families and under very challenging conditions,” Kahariri said.
“A decent home gives families stability. It provides peace of mind to the service member and allows them to focus fully on the mission.”
