A Tale of Two Housing Crises

The Irish government on Thursday, November 13, 2025, announced a comprehensive plan to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030, a move aimed at tackling a crippling housing shortage that mirrors challenges faced in Kenya. The strategy, titled 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities', commits unprecedented state funding to boost housing supply, raising pertinent questions and potential lessons for Nairobi's ongoing affordable housing agenda.

Ireland's housing minister, James Browne, detailed the plan, which includes the construction of 72,000 social homes and 90,000 'Starter Home' supports for first-time buyers. The government has earmarked over €28 billion for housing and related infrastructure, including significant investments in water, energy, and transport to support the new developments. This state-led initiative is described as the largest in the nation's history, reflecting the severity of a crisis fueled by a construction slowdown after the 2008 economic crash and continued population growth.

Parallels with Kenya's Housing Agenda

The situation in Ireland presents a striking parallel to Kenya's own struggle with a significant housing deficit, estimated at over two million units. The Kenyan government's Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) aims to construct 200,000 to 250,000 units annually, an ambitious target funded by the controversial 1.5% housing levy on gross salaries. As of late 2025, over 214,000 units were reportedly under construction across Kenya's 47 counties.

Both nations are grappling with the core issue of supply failing to meet demand, leading to soaring property prices and rental costs that outpace average incomes. In Ireland, a cost of living crisis has seen inflation on rent for the poorest households rise significantly. Similarly, in Kenya, the definition of 'affordable' under the AHP remains a point of contention, with critics arguing that current pricing models are misaligned with the financial realities of low-income families.

Strategies and Criticisms: A Comparative View

Ireland's plan, much like its 2021 predecessor 'Housing for All', employs a multi-pronged approach. It includes measures to convert vacant commercial properties into homes and grants for refurbishing derelict buildings. The government aims to streamline the planning process and provide more zoned and serviced land to accelerate private sector construction.

However, the Irish strategy has drawn sharp criticism. Opposition parties and civil society groups have labeled it "old wine in a new bottle," arguing it fails to address the root causes of the crisis. A key criticism from Sinn Féin, the main opposition party, is the removal of annual housing delivery targets, which they claim is an admission of anticipated failure and a way to avoid scrutiny. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment with the plan.

These criticisms resonate with the challenges facing Kenya's AHP. Despite receiving international awards for its digital infrastructure, the programme is under intense domestic scrutiny over the housing levy's fairness, transparency in fund management, and the actual pace of delivering completed homes. While the government projects the creation of up to one million jobs, initial delays and legal challenges have meant that the ambitious annual targets have not yet been met.

Lessons for Nairobi

As Dublin commits billions of euros and significant state intervention, Nairobi policymakers may draw valuable insights. Ireland's focus on massive infrastructure investment to support housing is a critical component that Kenya's AHP also recognizes as essential. Furthermore, the Irish plan's specific provisions for vulnerable groups, including the homeless and people with disabilities, offer a model for ensuring social inclusion within a national housing strategy.

Conversely, the backlash against the Irish plan highlights the political and social hurdles inherent in such large-scale projects. The criticism regarding the lack of annual targets serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of clear, measurable goals for maintaining public trust and accountability. For Kenya, where the housing levy remains contentious, the Irish experience underscores the need for robust public engagement and transparent mechanisms to demonstrate value and progress to a skeptical citizenry.

Ultimately, both the Irish and Kenyan governments have staked significant political capital on solving their respective housing crises. The success of these ambitious, state-driven programmes will depend not just on the volume of construction, but on their ability to deliver genuinely affordable homes, navigate political opposition, and prove their long-term benefit to the wider economy and society. Further investigation into the implementation of both plans is required to assess their true impact.