Employer-backed mortgages are being presented as a crucial solution to unlock homeownership for salaried Kenyans who often struggle with financing despite having stable incomes.

• Less than 30,000 mortgage accounts exist in Kenya, indicating a vast gap between potential demand and actual uptake.
• Key proponents include Mi Vida Homes chief executive officer Sam Kariuki and Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) CEO Johnstone Oltetia.
• These schemes involve employers partnering with financial institutions or developers, allowing loan repayments via payroll deductions, thereby reducing risk for lenders and creating predictable buyer pools for developers.