13 Million Kenyans in the Dark About Government's Affordable Housing Initiative

A substantial segment of the Kenyan population remains largely uninformed about the government's Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), despite considerable promotional efforts.

According to findings from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), 46.4 percent of adults are unaware of the AHP, with only 53.5 percent demonstrating familiarity with the initiative. This data, extrapolated to encompass approximately 28.2 million adult Kenyans, indicates that nearly 13 million individuals lack any knowledge of the programme.

“Overall, 53.5 per cent of respondents indicated that they were aware of the affordable housing programme,” the KNBS report notes.

The survey highlights a significant urban-rural divide in awareness levels. Approximately 49.7 percent of rural respondents reported being uninformed about the AHP, contrasted by 40.1 percent in urban areas. This gap is particularly striking given the high-profile nature of the programme since its launch in 2023. The government has implemented a 1.5 percent tax on the gross income of formally employed Kenyans to finance the construction of affordable housing, making the low levels of awareness particularly concerning.

Despite efforts from government officials, including President William Ruto, who has publicly advocated for the AHP's objectives and benefits, awareness remains disappointingly low. The programme aims to construct 200,000 houses annually; however, this goal appears ambitious in light of current budget allocations. The KNBS report further dissects public awareness of the AHP's associated benefits, revealing startling figures.

Only 7.7 percent of respondents were aware of the stamp duty exemption available to first-time homebuyers. Even fewer, 11.3 percent, were cognizant of the affordable housing relief, with just 16.2 percent of the informed population having benefited from this incentive. These findings underscore the critical need for more effective communication strategies to disseminate information about the AHP and its advantages.

In other news, Approximately 5,000 families residing in estates on the outskirts of Eldoret City are facing imminent eviction to facilitate a multi-billion shilling housing initiative led by President William Ruto. The estates affected by this decision, which include Kilimani, Tom Mboya, Kuria, W.C.C, and Kamanda, have stood for over seven decades along the bustling Eldoret-Webuye highway.

The Uasin Gishu County government, through its Department of Housing and Urban Development, has notified residents that they must vacate their homes by April 12, 2025. This notice, issued by the County Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Development Julius Koech, was dated January 13, 2025. It states, “As per the lease agreement, you are hereby given three months (90 days) notice to vacate the houses with effect from January to April 12, 2025, to pave the way for the implementation of the Kidiwa 2 affordable housing project.”

The majority of the affected families reside in buildings formerly operated by the Eldoret municipal council, with many being employees of the regional government, while a smaller number are affiliated with the national government.