Kenya creates National Housing Development Fund

The Kenyan government passed the Finance Act, 2018 creating a national housing development fund to help employees earning up to KES 100,000 per month to finance the purchase of their first home via government sponsored housing plans. Starting from 1 January 2019, employers and employees will have to contribute 3 percent (1.5 percent each) to the monthly gross pay, capped at KES 166,000 per month. Employees have the option to contribute more than 1.5 percent of the monthly gross pay and employers should contribute within nine days after each month or will be subject to a penalty of 5 percent of the amount due. A minimum of five years of contribution is required to access the fund.