Solutions Take Centre Stage at COP30, Marking a New Era of Accelerated Climate Action. Read it here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
Solutions Take Centre Stage at COP30, Marking a New Era of Accelerated Climate Action. Read it here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
Monday, 22 December 2025 | By Climate High-Level Champions
NAME
Etta Madete
TITLE
Founder & MD, Zima Homes & SHOUT (Sustainable Housing Technical Group)
LOCATION
Nairobi, Kenya
ABOUT
Etta Madete is an architect and housing developer addressing Kenya’s urban housing deficit through Zima Homes, a social enterprise she co-founded to make dignified, low-cost housing accessible. Her work focuses on creating affordable, climate-conscious homes for low- and lower-middle-income urban residents, particularly women and families in Nairobi.
Zima Homes uses prefabricated materials that reduce material use by about 30 per cent and cut embodied carbon by half. The buildings are planned with practical features such as green rooftops, rainwater harvesting and natural ventilation, which help keep costs down and make the homes more comfortable to live in. Each development includes shared outdoor areas and efficient water and energy systems, giving residents spaces to meet and a clearer sense of how resources are used.
MOTIVATION
“I am one of seven and a twin, from Nairobi City. I lived in over 14 homes, searching for affordable housing that had some basic semblance of safety, proximity, services, infrastructure. From four-per-room hostels, one-window studios, and 1-bedroom social housing without running water, to spacious 2-bedroom apartments so far away from the city centre that we were robbed three times in one month.
Africa has the fastest growing urban workforce, and yet our cities lack dignified urban housing to support this economic potential, especially for Women. Women make up at least 50 per cent of the Kenyan population, but only hold 1 per cent of home ownership titles solely, less than 6 per cent held jointly with men, and only one in ten urban women own their home in the city (KNBS). The right to adequate shelter is constitutional, but no matter the economic class, it must also be affordable, sustainable, and inclusive. I feel passionately that solutions do exist, and as an architect and housing developer I build scalable, sustainable and gender-inclusive housing projects to support a thriving African Urban workforce.”
IMPACT
Co-founded and developed Zima Homes, providing affordable, sustainable housing for Kenya’s growing urban population.
Delivered 84 mid-density courtyard apartments in Nairobi, priced between US$15,000 and US$35,000 and rented between US$100 and US$300 per month.
Achieved 80 per cent women ownership and 95 per cent Kenyan ownership in the first development.
Integrated green rooftops, rainwater harvesting and energy-efficient design to reduce environmental impact and improve urban resilience.
Created employment opportunities and increased women’s participation in the construction sector, with 55 per cent female involvement across design and development roles.
Partnered with financial institutions to make home loans accessible to low- and middle-income earners, expanding access to affordable housing ownership.
ADVICE
“Remember that your work matters, every part of it! Every day I feel like the challenge is too big to take on, but then I remember that everything has a ripple effect. Every person you meet, or that interacts with you or the work you do is exactly the change that is needed towards a sustainable future for people and planet.”
CONTACT
Website: www.zimahomes.co.ke I www.shout-group.com
