Affordable housing project in Mukuru Kwa Njenga

Nairobi, Kenya – President William Ruto today officially handed over 1,080 newly constructed housing units to residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi’s Embakasi South constituency, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme.

The handover ceremony, held at the New Mukuru Housing Estate, represents the completion of Phase 1 of the project, which, upon full realization, will comprise 13,248 housing units spread across 56 acres.

“These keys do not just open doors; they unlock opportunity, safety, pride, equity, and intergenerational upliftment,” President Ruto remarked during the event. He emphasized the project’s role in transforming informal settlements into dignified living spaces.

The housing units are offered under a rent-to-own scheme, with monthly payments acting as mortgage installments. Bedsitters are available for Ksh3,900 per month, one-bedroom units for Ksh4,000, and two-bedroom units for Ksh5,000. Water and electricity costs are billed separately based on usage.

The development caters to various income groups: social housing for those earning Ksh20,000 or less, affordable housing for incomes up to Ksh149,000, and upper-middle-income units for higher earners. This grouping aims to ensure broad accessibility and support inclusive urban growth.

Beyond providing shelter, the project includes essential amenities such as a health center, daycare facilities, a fire station, a strip mall, and a reticulated gas supply system with automatic leakage detectors. Infrastructure enhancements encompass 3.2 kilometers of roads, 9 kilometers of walkways, and 3.9 kilometers of sewer lines.

President Ruto highlighted the economic impact of the project, noting that it has injected Ksh11 billion directly into construction and neighborhood development. “For every shilling invested, an additional Ksh2.50 is generated through supporting businesses, meaning nearly Ksh28 billion has already been infused into the economy through this single initiative,” he stated.

Construction of the Mukuru Housing Project began in October 2022 and is expected to be completed by March 2026. The project is managed by three contractors: Vaghjiyani Enterprises (bedsitter blocks), Epco Builders (one-bedroom units), and Top Choice Surveillance (two-bedroom apartments).

The land for the project, located at Mukuru Met Site in South B near Enterprise Road, was reclaimed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in 2020 after being illegally occupied for over two decades. Initially owned by the Kenya Meteorological Department and valued at Ksh5 billion, the land was recovered following a court order canceling fraudulent title deeds.

Residents interested in applying for the housing units can register through the Boma Yangu platform or by dialing *832#.  Only one house is allowed per national ID.

“This is just the beginning. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every Kenyan has access to decent and affordable housing,” President Ruto declared.

The Vision Behind Affordable Housing Project

Kenya’s Affordable housing  remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s development agenda, promising dignity and shelter to millions of citizens. The affordable housing project is one of the Big Four Agenda priorities launched in 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government to address critical development gaps.

This ambitious program has been marketed as a solution to the country’s urban housing deficit, which stands at over 2 million units, with an annual demand of 250,000 units far outpacing the 50,000 units currently supplied.

President William Ruto, who came in power in 2023, also adopted and expanded the Affordable Housing in his development agenda, positioning it as a flagship pillar of his administration’s economic plan. He went ahead to introduced a housing levy to finance the project.  Salaried employees contribute 3% of their income, matched by their employers, to a national housing fund.

The affordable housing initiative also promises to spur economic growth by creating job opportunities in the construction sector, boosting local manufacturing, and attracting foreign investment into the real estate market.

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