Delivering affordable housing units for Kenyans under the Affordable Housing Project is one of the key promises President William Ruto made as he took over power in September 2022.
In fulfilling the promise, the government through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development and county governments in collaboration with development partners has rolled out several affordable housing projects across the country.
The completed and ongoing 112,405 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) units have created over 160,000 direct and indirect jobs for Kenyans since 2022. With another 730,062 AHP units in the pipeline to be launched this term, it's projected that the Affordable Housing Program will create over one million jobs during the program's life cycle.
While most Kenyans keep hearing that houses are being built, many do not know where the houses are and have been skeptical of the project.
In this article, we outline locations where affordable housing projects are currently ongoing;
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Commissioned/Ongoing Projects
Mukuru Met Site
It is located at the larger Mukuru slum that is estimated to host over 700,000 people. Being an informal settlement, most of its occupants don't have jobs and therefore reside in shacks and make-shift items. The area lacks proper sanitation or running water.
To improve the situation in the area, there are currently two undergoing affordable housing projects; Lot 1 second call-off which has 1296 units, and Lot 3 which has 4,608 units.
While the long-term goal of the project is to transform the lives of locals and give Mukuru a facelift, a section of locals are already enjoying the fruits of the project by offering services at the project site.
Kibera Soweto B
Like Mukuru, Kibera is also an informal settlement and experiences the challenges outlined above, especially in housing. The project has 4,054 units which are currently being constructed and are scheduled to be completed in January 2026.
It will have 18 blocks, with reports indicating that the area will also benefit from a community hall, a health center, an early childhood education center, and a community hall.
Mavoko affordable housing
Dubbed Mwangaza Parkside Residences (MPR), Mavoko currently has 5,360 units under construction. According to Boma Yangu, MPR is a mixed-use ultra-modern project on a mixed-used affordable residential gated community housing program on 80 acres within Syokimau, Mavoko Sub-county Machakos county.
The site is 700m from Mombasa Road along Longview Access Road.
Ruiru affordable housing project
Ruiru is one of the fastest-growing towns in Kiambu County and within the Nairobi metropolitan region. The project seeks to meet the rising demand for houses around the metropolitan area.
It is being undertaken by Kings Developers and is christened Kings Boma Estate. It is located at the heart of Ruiru town. Currently, 1,050 units are under construction.
Shauri Moyo A and B
Shauri Moyo is located in the Eastern part of Nairobi CBD. The area is not an informal settlement but mainly has semi-permanent structures. Shauri Moyo A housing project commenced in January 2023. Currently, 1,728 units are under construction, whereas Shauri Moyo B, the second phase of the project has 4,556 units.
Thika Affordable Housing Project
The project dubbed Kings Orchid is a gated community in Thika Town. According to Boma Yangu, Kings Orchid comprises 975 apartments featuring; studios, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedrooms, and 3 Bedroom Master Ensuite apartments.
Starehe
Dubbed Starehe Point, the project is located off General Waruinge Road in Starehe, which is a walking distance to Nairobi CBD. The project is close to key social amenities such as Pumwani Hospital, Burma, Gikomba and Kariokor markets, Eastleigh shopping center, Starehe Boys Centre, and Pangani Girls among others. Boma Yetu indicates that the project is being developed by Gulf Cap Real Estate in partnership with the national government. In addition to the house, the project also has joint community facilities such as a community center, shops, sports courts, swimming pool, kindergarten, green areas, food courts, gym, and many more. The project comprises 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units.
Ongoing Projects in the Counties
In addition to the above units, several county governments have entered into partnerships to develop affordable housing units for their constituents. In Nairobi, the county government is putting up 1,562 units in Pangani and 1,800 units under the Bachelors Jevanjee Housing Project. Nakuru has Bondeni housing projects where 1, 562 units are under construction.
In Mombasa, there is the Buxton Housing Project which has 1,850 units, Machakos has Moke Gardens (Private developer) in Athi River which has 4,118 units and lastly, Homa Bay County has 2,000 units under construction in partnership with National Housing Corporation.
Additionally, other projects are being done in collaboration with strategic partners, for instance, Athi Smart City, Mavoko which is expected to have about 800, 000 units.
Police Housing
Officers under the national police and prison services are also set to benefit from affordable housing. The creation of housing units for police started in 2016, to construct 4,630 units. Currently, 1,782 units are completed, while 1,650 units are ongoing.
How to Acquire an Affordable Housing Unit
To begin your home ownership journey, you first need to register on the Boma Yangu housing portal and provide personal details such as name, ID Number/Passport, and KRA pin.
After a successful registration, your details income, and credit profile will be verified, after which you can start saving for the initial deposit.
Once you have the deposit, you apply for a unit. This starts by selecting the specific unit, followed by completing the application profile on Boma Yangu and submitting an application for allocation.
Once you are done with the application, the board reviews the applications and makes determinations. The determination is then communicated to applicants, with the successful ones receiving offer letters.
The successful applicant will then sign the required paperwork and move in at their convenience.
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