The Kenyan government is set to unveil 4,800 affordable housing units across the country, with strict measures to prevent speculative buyers and wealthy investors from acquiring them for commercial purposes. This move aims to ensure that the low and middle-income earners, the primary beneficiaries of the Boma Yangu program, are given priority in home ownership.
Speaking at a media briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome confirmed that the Affordable Housing Board is thoroughly vetting applicants to eliminate those seeking to exploit the system. “We will not allow individuals with deep pockets, including politicians and government officials, to purchase these units for renting out,” Wahome stated.
The Boma Yangu program, run by the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, requires applicants to be Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above, with a valid national ID and an eCitizen account. These details are used to assess eligibility, including income levels, ensuring that only deserving individuals access the houses.
Currently, the government is developing 840,622 housing units, with projections to create 2.7 million jobs over the next five years. The project is financed through a 1.5% deduction from an employee’s gross monthly income, matched by employers, contributing an estimated Sh65 billion annually.
The first 4,800 units are expected to be available within the next two months, with occupancy set to begin by March 2025. Among these, 1,080 units belong to the Mukuru housing project, Kenya’s largest government-led housing development. The Mukuru Kwa Reuben project alone comprises 13,248 units, including bedsitters, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.
By March 2025, the government will release five housing blocks in Mukuru for allocation through the Boma Yangu platform. More units are expected by June, with projects in Homa Bay, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, and Embu contributing to the supply. The program aims to construct 200,000 homes annually and one million units by 2027, addressing Kenya’s housing deficit, where 61% of urban households live in informal settlements.
Wahome emphasized that the project is inclusive, targeting groups like Mama Mboga (small-scale traders) and boda boda riders, offering flexible payment plans of 10 to 30 years. “The future of this program is to eradicate slums in the country,” she affirmed.
With these measures, the government hopes to deliver affordable, genuinely accessible housing, ensuring a fair distribution of homes to those who need them most.
