low- income house types for Kenya, a selection 04 house types with estimated construction cost prices, suitable for t~e low-income group.
Abstract
It is the aim of this publication to provide
reference plans of urban house types suitable
for the low-income group. Each example shown
indicates a design solution which conforms with
certain design criteria and is not meant as a
prototype to be applied indiscrimanately.
It is usually assumed that a household can
afford 40 spend 2~/o of its income on housing.
The latest figures indicate that for 1977 the
average household income in the formal sector
was approxima?"'tel..¥~,.K1S0h0s0/- per month. This would
mean that large numbers of Kenyans can afford less
than KShs.200/- per month on housing(l).
In the governmed; housing policy, as laid down
in the Development plan 1974-78 it says: (2)
".......•......... each housing unit constructed
in urban areas shall have at
",.least two rooms plus its own
oJ; II
kitchen and toilet.
Such a minimum, with two rooms, kitchen', toilet
and a shower, 1Jl:j~ ,I in permanent materials by
a registered cbntractor will cost approximately
KShs.25,000/- (including cost of infrastructure)
and the occupant's monthly charge would be over
KShs. 200/-.
Therefore it is very often found that a household
occupies only one room. Normally the owner of the
house (if living there) does not share the kitchen
but shares