Over 1,000 residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga have officially moved into newly constructed affordable housing units under a government-backed rent-to-own programme. The initiative, unveiled by President William Ruto and championed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is aimed at improving living standards for Kenyans in informal settlements.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga revealed that the residents will pay Ksh.2,800 monthly, structured as a rent-to-own plan—not traditional rent. “This is not rent. They are not tenants. They are homeowners in the making,” he emphasized.
The monthly amount includes a subsidized service charge of Ksh.1,000 and an insurance fee of Ksh.200. According to PS Hinga, the actual cost of services in the new units should be around Ksh.3,000, but the government has stepped in to cushion the most vulnerable. “Because these are the most vulnerable in our society, the government provides a Ksh.2,000 subsidy,” he explained.
The units, which are predominantly bedsitters, form part of the first phase of the Mukuru Affordable Housing project. The initiative is not only focused on providing shelter but also aims to rectify years of inequality in access to basic services. Hinga noted that residents in informal settlements often pay exorbitant amounts for water, electricity, and sanitation—up to 172% more for water and over 140% more for electricity due to lack of infrastructure.
“In Mukuru, people even pay to use a toilet. That is probably the lowest level of indignity,” said the PS. He added that nearly 70% of Kenya’s urban population lives in similar conditions, making the affordable housing agenda critical to restoring dignity and equity.
The Mukuru project is part of a broader government initiative to address urban poverty and transform informal settlements into habitable, well-serviced communities. Through these interventions, the government hopes to bridge the housing gap and offer long-term solutions to urban dwellers.
