H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI’S SPEECH DURING THE 30th AGM OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK AT KICC, NAIROBI-14TH JUNE 2011.
MORTGAGE FINANCE FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO HOUSING IN AFRICA.

Present:
H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI
VICE PRESIDENT KALONZO MUSYOKA E.G.H, M.P
MINISTER FOR HOUSING-Hon. Soita Shitanda, E.G.H,M.P.
MINISTER FOR LANDS AND HOUSING-UGANDA-Hon. Daudi Migereko.
CHAIRMAN OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK.
MINISTERS FOR HOUSING FOR 43 MEMBER STATES OF SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK.
ARCHITECTS .

Hon. KALONZO MUSYOKA’S SPEECH.

Vice President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka began his speech by jogging peoples’ memories on the fact that in the year 1987, he was honored to lead the Kenyan delegation to the 6th AGM in Kigali, Rwanda. During the AGM, he says that Kenya did not hesitate to host the Headquarters in Nairobi.

Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka said that he was also honored to lead the Kenyan delegation to Vienna in 1996 where after Kenya made a decision to include shelter an issue of Human Rights.

He said that the new Kenyan constitution now makes shelter a basic human right.
He then invited H.E President Mwai Kibaki to give his speech.

H.E PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI’S SPEECH.

H.E President Kibaki welcomed all to the meeting on behalf of the people of Kenya.
He noted that the theme of the meeting was Mortgage finance for increased access to housing in Africa.
He said that the theme was timely to address the housing shortfall in Africa due to rapid urban growth. He said that Africa is currently experiencing 5% annual urban growth rate which is the fastest in the world. This has resulted in environmental degradation and the onset of slums.

He said that Africa must invest in more resources in Housing. He stressed that innovative housing finance strategies are critical. The cost of Housing should reduce.
He noted that mortgage financing is expensive, risky and only for the rich and Africans must make property financing affordable to low income people.

He hoped that the meeting will come up with a concrete proposal to unlock mortgage to enable people to access housing.
He noted that since 1982, Shelter Afrique has played a crucial role in facilitating development of housing mostly in the middle income households e.g. in Kenya, Shelter Afrique has funded over 86 projects at a cost of 111 million USD which has resulted to an increase in Kenya’s economy.

He said that use of locally available construction materials should be used with modern technology to make construction affordable.
He said that the Banking Act has been amended to accommodate extension of credit to the real estate sector. E.g. mortgage companies are now allowed to operate current accounts to mobilize deposits and Banks can advance up to 40% of their total deposits up from 25% for investments in real estate.

Conclusion.

H.E President Kibaki said that cost of borrowing money to build a home was too high, hampering Kenya’s development. He challenged Shelter Afrique to find ways of reducing this and requested all present to focus on this dimension.

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau. B.Arch. Nrb. M.A.A.K[A]
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684.

How To Build A Raft Foundation In Silty Soils

Author: Andrew Karundu

Silty soils are unstable and have very low safe bearing capacity. This means that they cannot safely carry foundations. Due to there unstable nature, different foundations are used. This foundations are either piles or rafts. The raft foundation involves bulk excavations. Other soils that may require total bulk excavations are cotton soils. The excavations allow for the loose silt to be removed. This is normally found on areas near water bodies, rivers, bottoms of valleys and swamps. The depth will vary according to the topography of the land.

Raft foundations cover the entire area of the building. This means that the total surface to be covered is built on this foundation. The depth of excavation should be determined on site. The foundation should be cast on a firm surface. This is usually a hardcore surface. The depth of concrete is one foot over general surfaces. to be located, the depth is one and a half feet. The whole base should be like a floating mass of reinforced concrete.

The raft foundation commences by marking out the desired building layout. After checking the depth of silt from a trial pit., excavation commences. After it is complete, a compactor is used to form a flat hard surface. Care should be taken to avoid water in the pit. The firm surface is then compacted to the approved levels. When this is complete, Hardcore is then added to the pit. This is compacted in stages of one foot. A two feet depth is ideal.

After the hardcore is in place, The areas to have the walls are marked out. Any walls that are load bearing are clearly marked out. Hardcore is then removed to a depth of one foot and two feet wide. Blinding and a damp proof membrane are laid over hardcore. A mesh reinforcement is laid over at a height of six inches. Concrete is then poured onto the hardcore. After curing for a week, the walling may now commence for the actual building.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/how-to-build-a-raft-foundation-in-silty-soils-1871499.html

About the Author

Andrew Karundu Is A Building Economist, Providing Home Based Solutions To Fixing, Repairing, Remodeling And Redesigning Homes. He Uses Simple Tried And Tested Methods To Improve Family Lifestyles.Visit His Site Here For Adequate Information On Most HOME IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS.

HOTEL AT AMBOSELI

ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION
Reception, offices, and Lounge: Approximately 300m2. Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 15,000,000.
Bar: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
Restaurant: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
Kitchen: Approximately 100m2: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 5,000,000.00.
20 Bandas: Approximately 50m2 each: Estimated cost of construction including consultancy fees: KES 50,000,000.00.

TOTAL: KES 80,000,000.00

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau
info@a4architect.com
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

JOINT VENTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES FOR SALE IN KENYA

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com offers Joint Venture partnership with land owners in order to develop houses for sale within Kenya.
This Joint Venture is financed by Shelter Afrique bank on a 50-50 sharing on the proceeds from sale of the houses. The land owner is then granted an additional amount being the value of the land.

ELIGIBILITY
Prism Designs Africa will first carry our preliminary project structure to ascertain viability. Basically, the debt ratio should be as per Shelter Afrique’s requirements and the plot location should be in an area where the houses can attract buyers once constructed.
To be eligible for the Joint Venture, the land must be a minimum of 5 acres for land suitable for apartment development and 10 acres for land suitable for bungalow and maisonette development.
The larger the size of the land, the higher the chances of the project being eligible for the Joint Venture.
Lands situated in middle to low cost areas also have a higher chance of eligibility than lands in high-cost areas.

HOW IT WORKS:

LAND OWNER

1. The land owner expresses willingness to Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com to get into a Joint Venture for construction of houses for sale on his land.
2. Prism Designs Africa www.a4arhcitect.com visits the land site and carries out a feasibility study to determine the most viable options available and the cost of the project.

15% OF TOTAL PROJECT COST

3. Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com calculates 15% of the total construction cost. The land owner is supposed to bring in 15 % of this total cost. If the land value is less than 15% of total project cost, Prism Designs Africa will contribute Professional services [Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering] to top up the balance.
4. Once the contribution of 15% of total project cost is reached, Shelter Afrique bank arranges for financing of the remainder of the costs.

50-50 PROFIT SHARING + REFUND OF COST OF LAND

5. Once financing is secured, construction and off-plan sales of the houses commences . Once the houses are complete and sold out, the profits are shared equally between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner. The land owner is given a further amount to cater for the value of the land.
6. The land owner can now settle the amounts contributed by Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com in raising the contribution to 15% of the total project cost.

COMMISION AGENTS

Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com recognizes the value of commission agents in sourcing for land owners who require Joint Venture partnerships with developers.
Prism Designs Africa offers 1% of the construction cost as agency fees to these commission agents.
Usually, the construction costs run into hundreds of millions of shillings since the minimum construction costs to be eligible for this Joint Venture partnership is KES 200,000,000. In this case, 1% of KES 200,000,000=KES 2,000,000.00.

For more information regarding this, contact Prism Designs Africa www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau
Architect.
Prism Designs Africa
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

BUSINESS PLAN FOR A HIGH COST HOUSING ESTATE IN NAIROBI BY www.a4architect.com.

Land Value: 5.6m per acre.
Number of acres=30

View various house designs here http://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
I have given 25 different designs of 15 categories of sizes ranging from 100m2 to 400m2.
This way, a large and diverse section of house owners will have their taste and budget fulfilled by the project.
Each house is priced to independently cater for the cost of consultancy and external works in a pro-rata basis since cost of Land is constant.
The calculation is based on the assumption that 7 houses of each of the different sizes will be chosen. The final calculations shall be done once all house buyers make their choice.
Yours faithfully,
Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

15 DIFFERENT SIZES OF HOUSES RANGING FROM 100M2 TO 400M2 TO BE CHOSEN.

EACH OF THE 15 DIFFERENT SIZES HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO CATER FOR DIVERSE TASTES

ASSUMPTION:AN AVERAGE OF 7 HOUSES OF EACH OF THE 15 SIZES IS CHOSEN BY THE BUYERS

Cost Item Kshs %
Land 168,000,000.00 9.64337
Construction 1,092,350,000.00 62.702
External Works[ road,sewer,water,street lighting, driveway] 137,142,857.14 7.87214
Consultancy fees
Valuation-0.05% of Construction cost 546,175.00 0.03135
Quantity Surveying-3% of Construction cost 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Architecture: 6% of Construction cost. 65,541,000.00 3.76212
Electrical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Mechanical engineering: 2% of Construction cost. 21,847,000.00 1.25404
Structural engineering : 3% of Construction cost. 32,770,500.00 1.88106
Civil Engineering: 0.5% of Construction cost. 5,461,750.00 0.31351
Legal fees: 1.5% of Construction cost. 16,385,250.00 0.94053
Urban or Town Planning Consultancy: 0.3% of Construction cost. 3,277,050.00 0.18811
Administration: 0.8% of Construction cost. 8,738,800.00 0.50162
Accounting services: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254
Environmental Impact Assesment[NEMA]: 0.2% of Construction cost. 2,184,700.00 0.1254

Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]
Registered Architect No. A1085
www.a4architect.com
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.
HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE
A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.
SOLUTION.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA has worked out a solution to this.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.
JOINT VENTURE WITH SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK
Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA then organizes for a Joint Venture with Shelter Afrique Bank.
Shelter Afrique bank offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA consultancy contribution AND 15% from Shelter Afrique Bank], local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.
SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE
Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA, Shelter Afrique bank forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by Shelter Afrique and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.
CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA www.a4architect.com.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.

HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE

A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.

SOLUTION.

PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA has worked out a solution to this.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.

JOINT VENTURE WITH SHELTER AFRIQUE BANK

Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA then organizes for a Joint Venture with Shelter Afrique Bank.
Shelter Afrique bank offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA consultancy contribution AND 15% from Shelter Afrique Bank], local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.

SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE

Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA, Shelter Afrique bank forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by Shelter Afrique and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between Shelter Afrique bank and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.

CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

HOW TO GET 100% FINANCING FOR YOUR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KENYA.JOINT VENTURE METHOD.

Construction financing is a challenge to many land owners in Kenya.
Many land owners and developers would like to construct houses for sale but the limitation usually comes due to lack of finances.
Kenyan banks require that the land owner finances the consultancy fees, marketing and sales fees and bank interest.
All the above usually form an approximate of 15% of the total construction cost but varies from project to project depending on the scope.

HALF ACRE PLOT EXAMPLE

A half acre plot in a middle income area such as Ongata Rongai to be constructed with maisonette type units will cost approximately KES 80 million in total including cost of land purchase. Therefore, 15% of such a project is around KES 12.5 million.
After raising this amount, the banks require that the land owner or developer now raises a further 15% in terms of hard cash into the actual brick and mortar construction project.
This requirement has locked out many potential developers due to the high amount.

SOLUTION.

a4architect  has worked out a solution to this.
a4architect  offers equity contribution in terms of professional services namely Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Legal services and Sales and Marketing.
a4architect works out a Joint Venture/agreement with the land owner to offer part of these professional services as a contribution so that the land owner can reach the 15% project value contribution.

JOINT VENTURE WITH FINANCIERS

Once the land owner/developer’s equity reaches 15%, a4architect then organizes for a Joint Venture with financiers.
Financiers offers a further contribution of 15% of the total project value as contribution.
Once the land owner/developer’s contribution now reaches 30% [15% from land value+a4architect consultancy contribution AND 15% from financiers, local banks can now be approached to finance the balance of the construction project.
This way, the land owner can now get funding for their project with their only contribution being the value of their land. Consultancy fees are offered by a4architect at no initial cost to the land owner/developer.

SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE

Once the land owner/developer contributes their 15% of the project value with the assistance of a4architect, financier forms a SPV which is a company owned jointly by financier and the Land Owner. The land ownership is now transferred to the SPV.
The SPV develops the project and at the end of the project, the profits realized are shared between financier and the land owner/Developer.
At this stage, a4architect receives monies that it had contributed to the land owner/developer initially.

CONCLUSION

The land owner/developer will now have realized profits from the sale of units with their only contribution of land.
For more information, contact  www.a4architect.com.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
PRISM DESIGNS AFRICA.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG MOMBASA ROAD
PART 1:NAIROBI WEST TO SYOKIMAU AREA
Mombasa road is among the most desired area by Nairobians as a residential area.

Click here to view houses for sale along Mombasa road.

This is because it offers the widest choice in terms of budget and affordability and does not have the ‘ancestral tribal land’ tag hence very suitable for a wide and cosmopolitan population.

NAIROBI WEST/SOUTH B/SOUTH C

Mombasa road begins with the Nairobi West, South B and South C area. In South C, houses usually go for between 12 to 18million per unit.
In South B-Diamond park Estate, houses go for between 10 to 12 million per unit.
In these areas, land for development of new residential is scarce. Along the Northern bypass, next to Nairobi National park in South C, several parcels of land are still available for sale.
For Nairobi West and South B, the option of bringing a low-rise unit down to pave way for high-rise flats is available. An example is along Kapiti Road nest to Highway Secondary school where a high-rise building is coming up in a predominantly low-rise bungalow-type area.
In South B,the area behind Zain/Airtel/Parkside towers also have a few remaining parcels of land available for sale.

IMARA DAIMA, BEHIND SAMEER PARK,BEHIND LIBRA HOUSE & OPPOSITE CITY CABANAS AREA

After the South B/C area, Mombasa road moves to the area behind Sameer Park, Behind Libra House and opposite City Cabanas. In this area, the residential units are predominantly high-rise. Small parcels of land are still available here. The estate on the left hand side of Imara Daima still has small 33×66 plots for sale.
There is also half acre plot right behind Libra House for sale at KES 35milion.

Houses in Imara Daima area go for between 6 to 10 million per unit.

JKIA AIRPORT AREA

The next frontier after City Cabanas area is the JKIA area. This area is reserved for the airport expansion and plan landing so there are no residential developments until Syokiamu.

SYOKIMAU /MLOLONGO/SABAKI AREA

Syokimau begins at JKIA Resort club and extends all the way to Mlolongo town.
There are 1/8th plots 1 km from Mombasa road selling at KES 2.2million each. The price decreases as the distance from Mombasa road increases.
The area before the River has been zoned by the Mavoko county council to be for High-rise flats. In this area, we have Easy park flats, 360 apartments and Great wall apartments.
The area right next to the Telecommunication structures along Katani road also has several available plots for sale.
A half acre there is going for KES 8million.

PART 2: AREAS PAST MLOLONGO TOWN TO DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY AREA/KITENGELA/ISINYA

Architect Francis Gichuhi
+254721410684
www.a4architect.com

SEPTIC TANK.

A septic tank cures waste material through anaerobic respiration to eradicate he foul smell.
Septic tanks are not waste storage devices. They are designed to hold the waste for a very short time [1 day]. After this, the waste goes to the soak pit for storage and onward sipping into the surrounding ground.

From landscaping nairobi

The early colonial settlers who constructed large mansions around Nairobi and other areas such as Nakuru made very small septic tanks usually 1 meter wide and 3 meters long with each chamber approximately 1 meter long.
With the onset of Kenya becoming a republic in 1963, the Local Government ministry was empowered with regulating the building industry through the building code enforced by the Councils.
The councils insist that a copy of the septic tank drawing must be accompanied by the architectural drawings while submitting drawings for approval.
This has necessitated for duplication of the available septic tank drawings which are usually large in size.

From landscaping nairobi

CIVIL ENGINEERS
Civil Engineers are the ones who design septic tanks. Since Civil Engineers are scarce and rare, this necessitates more and more duplication of the existing large septic tank drawings.

COST OF CONSTRUCTION
The cost of construction in Kenya is higher than in other African countries due to such lack of consultation of architects and engineers.
If architects and engineers are involved in even the small residential type of houses, such duplication of mistakes can be seen and corrected before construction hence saving the house owner hundreds of thousands of shillings in the process.
This duplication and copying of house designs in Kenya kills creativity and causes the house owners to lose thousands and even millions of shillings in unnecessary construction costs.
THE DIAMOND HOUSE PLAN
The Diamond House plan designed by www.a4architect.com has been designed specifically to reduce costs of construction of every single element within the totality of the building. Foundations are designed to reduce over 500%, walling reduces 80% ,roofing reduces 300% and finishes including doors and windows and septic tank reduce a further 90% of construction cost. See the house here http://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
CONCLUSION
Solutions to reduction of construction costs are here with us if we decide to consult the relevant professionals in this.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

Architect.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684