NCBA Group has launched its EASYBUILD solution aimed at supporting Kenya’s growing self-build housing market, where the majority of homeowners prefer constructing their own homes rather than purchasing completed houses.
The solution seeks to address major challenges facing owner-builders, including limited access to financing, cost overruns, hidden construction expenses, weak project oversight, and fraud within the construction value chain.
Self-build dominates Kenya’s housing sector
According to the Kenya Bankers Association Housing Survey 2025, 68 per cent of Kenyan homes are self-constructed, reflecting a strong preference among homeowners for greater control over design, pace, and overall building costs.
The report comes amid a national housing deficit estimated at 2 million units, with annual demand for 250,000 homes significantly outpacing the current supply of about 50,000 units.
This gap has made self-building the preferred path to homeownership for many Kenyans, despite the risks and financial strain involved.
EASYBUILD offers financing and technical support
NCBA says EASYBUILD combines financing with end-to-end project support, offering customers access to architectural, engineering, structural, and financial advisory services throughout the entire construction journey.
The model is designed to help customers plan effectively, manage costs, monitor progress, and ensure accountability from groundbreaking to project completion.
Dennis Njau, Group Director for Retail Banking at NCBA, said the product was developed to reflect the realities of how most Kenyans build their homes.
“The housing conversation in Kenya often centres on mortgages and completed homes, yet the reality is that most Kenyans are building for themselves, often step by step,” said Njau.
He noted that EASYBUILD provides a more structured way to build by combining financing with expert support to reduce stress and improve confidence among homeowners.
Diaspora investors among key beneficiaries
The bank says the solution has attracted strong interest from Kenyans living abroad who want to invest in home construction back in Kenya but face challenges supervising projects remotely.
Njau said trust remains one of the biggest concerns in the construction sector, especially for diaspora customers who fear fraud, stalled works, or mismanagement of funds.
“By bringing financing, professional support, and structure into one solution, EASYBUILD helps address that trust gap and gives customers more control over the process,” he said.
Supporting financial literacy and homeownership
NCBA says the EASYBUILD proposition aligns with its Ubuntu strategy of providing practical financial solutions that respond to customers’ everyday realities.
The product is also a key focus of the 2026 NCBA Meet, Mingle and Money Talks engagements, a financial literacy platform targeting young professionals and emerging affluent customers.
Through the initiative, the bank aims to help more Kenyans navigate the journey to homeownership with greater confidence and transparency.