President William Ruto on Tuesday, May 20, officially handed over the first batch of affordable housing units at the Mukuru Kwa Njenga site in Nairobi’s Embakasi South constituency, describing the event as one of the most consequential moments in his political journey.
Speaking during the ceremony, the President handed over 1,080 keys to new homeowners, stating that the initiative represented the beginning of a transformative chapter for Kenyans previously locked out of homeownership.
“Today marks a turning point not only for the residents of Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Kwa Reuben, and Marigu-ini, but also for all Kenyans who have been left behind for far too long,” Ruto said.
He declared that his dream of offering dignified, decent living conditions to millions of Kenyans was finally taking shape, crediting the success to the controversial Housing Levy which funded the initiative.
“They told me that it is not possible, that I am a liar, and today I am here. Has it not been possible? Is it true or a lie?” he posed to the crowd, which responded with cheers.
The Mukuru project is the largest single-site housing intervention in the country’s history. Once complete, it will consist of 13,248 units across 56 acres, featuring integrated facilities and social amenities. The development will host 5,616 bedsitters, 3,024 one-bedroom apartments, and 4,608 two-bedroom units—spread across 88 blocks.
The project features an underground 5-million-litre water tank, 210,000 litres in high-level tanks, and a reticulated gas supply system with automatic gas leakage detectors. It also includes a health centre, fire station, day care facilities, strip mall, and waste management rooms.
“These keys do not just open doors; these are keys that will unlock opportunity, safety, pride, equity, and intergenerational upliftment,” Ruto said.
Construction of the project began in October 2022 and is scheduled for completion by March 2026. Vaghjiyani Enterprises, Epco Builders, and Top Choice Surveillance are managing different blocks within the project.
Residents will access the homes through a rent-to-own model, with monthly payments acting as mortgage instalments. Bedsitters will go for Ksh3,900, one-bedrooms at Ksh4,000, and two-bedroom units at Ksh5,000—excluding utility costs.
The project caters to three income brackets: those earning below Ksh20,000 (social housing), up to Ksh149,000 (affordable housing), and upper-middle-income earners.
Ruto also highlighted the economic ripple effect of the project, revealing that it had directly injected Ksh11 billion into construction and local 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 said.
According to the President, the housing site also contains 3.2 kilometres of internal roads, 9 kilometres of walkways, 3.9 kilometres of sewer lines, 14,321 square metres of parking space, and 32 transformer houses to ensure adequate electricity supply.
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“Corner shops, daycares, schools, clinics, and digital start-ups. Young people will set up gyms, salons, studios, and delivery services,” he noted.
Ruto called on Kenyans to register through the Boma Yangu platform or dial *832# to secure their opportunity to own a home.
“The Boma Yangu platform is our gateway to equitable homeownership. It is transparent, inclusive, and easy to use. Over 4,000 homes are already up for purchase,” he said. “Whether you earn less than Ksh20,000 or over Ksh150,000, there’s a pathway for you.”
The land on which the project sits—originally owned by the Kenya Meteorological Department—was reclaimed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in 2020 after it was illegally grabbed in the late 1990s and subdivided among private entities. The Environment and Lands Court ordered the cancellation of fraudulent title deeds in a landmark ruling.
“This is the first batch. In August or September we will come to hand over another 5,000 units. We will come back again in the new year and hand over another 5,000, and that will be the trend until we give 13,000 houses to Kenyans,” Ruto assured.
The President concluded by reiterating his administration’s pledge to construct 200,000 housing units annually to meet the country’s demand of about 250,000 units.
“This is one of the most consequential days of my political career. Today I can hand over keys to citizens of our nation, people who would otherwise have never had a chance in life. But today they have the keys not just to open doors but to open a home into dignity,” he said.
There is a deposit requirement for affordable housing under the Boma Yangu program.
You are required to save at least 10% of the unit’s value as a deposit to be eligible for allocation.
