Kenya’s ambitious affordable housing programme, spearheaded by President William Ruto’s administration, is facing mounting criticism from industry experts who warn that the project could financially burden the very people it seeks to uplift.
On Tuesday, President Ruto officially handed over 1,080 housing units to residents of Mukuru Estate, marking a significant milestone in his plan to deliver 250,000 affordable houses annually. The initiative aims to transition Kenyans living in informal settlements into decent, permanent homes. “This is an opportunity for our people to live in dignity and to own a home,” Ruto said during the handover.
However, experts argue that the programme’s implementation is flawed. Architect and urban development scholar, Prof. Alfred Omenya, expressed concern over the project’s sustainability. “The model, though well-intentioned, risks excluding the very people it’s supposed to help,” he said. Omenya believes that without rethinking the delivery framework, the initiative could become a long-term burden for low-income homeowners.
George Ndege, President of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the current structures bypassed critical stages of planning and consultation. “There was inadequate stakeholder engagement, which led to substandard planning and questionable construction decisions,” Ndege said. He warned that issues such as poor indoor air quality and inadequate green design could emerge if a comprehensive technical review is not undertaken.
An earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between key professional bodies, including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) and the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK), had proposed a joint housing forum to guide such projects. However, this collaboration stalled due to lack of funding for essential research and site analyses.
Defending the project, National Assembly Housing Committee Chair Johanna Ng’eno said it addresses the persistent challenge of informal settlements. Homeowners will pay Ksh.3,900 monthly—Ksh.2,700 towards homeownership and Ksh.1,200 as service charge.
As the government continues to push forward with its housing agenda, experts stress the need for a more inclusive, consultative, and evidence-based approach to ensure the initiative delivers not just homes, but sustainable communities.
