At exactly 5:00 PM on December 18, 2025, William Ruto stood on a makeshift stage in the heart of New Mukuru, Nairobi, and handed over the first set of keys to families who had spent decades living without running water, electricity, or flush toilets. More than 4,500 housing units were officially transferred that evening — not as charity, but as ownership. These weren’t temporary shelters. They were fully furnished apartments, complete with reticulated gas lines, internet access, and security systems. And for the first time, these families weren’t renters. They were homeowners.
A Promise Kept, Against the Odds
President Ruto had made the promise publicly just hours before the handover, during a speech commemorating World Minority Right Day. "This evening I am going to give out 5,000 houses here in Mukuru," he told a crowd of thousands. "A person who has been living in the slum today will climb to the 14th floor, go and live there, and it is his/her own home." The exact number delivered — 4,500 — fell slightly short of the target, but it was still the largest single allocation under Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme since its launch. The first batch, just 1,080 units, had been distributed in May 2025 in Kisumu. This was the second wave — and it landed in one of Nairobi’s most densely populated informal settlements.More Than Just Roofs
The New Mukuru Affordable Housing site isn’t just a cluster of high-rises. It’s a planned urban ecosystem. Alongside the residential blocks, the government built a Level IV hospital, a fire station, a police post, and a primary school — all within walking distance. Ruto called it "a major step toward transforming Kenya through modern, planned urban housing." But the real innovation wasn’t the concrete or the elevators. It was the shift in mindset: from viewing slums as problems to be cleared, to recognizing them as communities to be upgraded."These are not resettlement camps," said Mwangi Njoroge, a former Mukuru resident now living on the 12th floor. "This is home. I bought my first pair of shoes here. Now I have a door I can lock. My daughter sleeps without hearing gunfire outside." His story isn’t unique. Over 80% of the beneficiaries were drawn from the original Mukuru settlement, according to data from the Kenyan Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Why Mukuru? Why Now?
Mukuru, home to over 500,000 people in a space smaller than Central Park, has long been a symbol of Kenya’s urban inequality. It’s where the state’s absence was most visible — no paved roads, no sewage system, no public lighting. Yet it’s also where community resilience was strongest. When Ruto announced the project in 2023, critics called it politically motivated. "They’re just moving people out of sight," argued activist Wanjiku Mwangi. "But look at what’s here now — schools, clinics, water taps. This isn’t displacement. It’s dignity."The government’s broader goal is even more ambitious: 200,000 new homes per year for five years, targeting over five million Kenyans. The New Mukuru project alone is part of a 14,000-unit development. Nationwide, more than 240,000 units are under construction across 17 counties. The Affordable Housing Programme is now Kenya’s largest infrastructure initiative since the 2013 Standard Gauge Railway.
The Ripple Effect
The impact is already visible. Local businesses have sprung up around the new housing blocks — kiosks selling phone chargers, tailors repairing school uniforms, pharmacies stocking insulin. Property values in nearby areas have risen by 27% since the project broke ground, according to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis. And for the first time, children in Mukuru are enrolling in schools with proper desks, not makeshift benches under trees.But challenges remain. Maintenance funds for the buildings aren’t yet secured. Some beneficiaries fear rising utility costs. And while the government pledged to connect all units to the national grid, over 300 homes still rely on solar panels due to grid delays. "We didn’t ask for a palace," said Amina Abdi, a single mother of three. "We asked for a place where we don’t have to beg for water. We got that. But now we need someone to fix the leak in the bathroom. Who do we call?"
What’s Next?
The next phase of the programme will focus on the Kibera and Mathare settlements, where over 1.2 million people live in similar conditions. Construction is already underway on 8,000 units in Kibera, with a planned handover in Q3 2026. The government has also launched a mobile app for residents to report maintenance issues — a first for public housing in Kenya.Meanwhile, Ruto has pledged to expand the programme to rural areas, where informal housing is less visible but equally dire. "Housing isn’t a privilege," he said in a recent address. "It’s a right. And we’re just getting started."
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are being housed in the New Mukuru project, and who qualifies?
Over 4,500 households — roughly 22,500 people — received keys in the December 2025 handover. Eligibility was based on verified residency in Mukuru’s informal settlements prior to 2020, with priority given to families without access to running water, electricity, or sanitation. Beneficiaries paid a nominal monthly fee of KSh 2,500 (about $18), with no down payment required.
What amenities come with these new homes?
Each unit is fully furnished with a kitchenette, bathroom, and built-in storage. Reticulated gas lines supply cooking fuel, internet connectivity is included, and each floor has emergency lighting and fire extinguishers. The complex also includes a communal laundry area, children’s play zones, and 24-hour security. Utilities are metered, and residents pay only for what they use.
Is this program sustainable long-term?
The government has allocated KSh 12 billion annually for maintenance and repairs through the National Housing Corporation. A resident-led management committee was elected in each block to oversee upkeep. While funding is secure for the next five years, experts warn that without increased local revenue collection and private-sector partnerships, long-term sustainability could be at risk.
How does this compare to previous housing efforts in Kenya?
Past efforts, like the 2014 Vision 2030 housing initiative, delivered fewer than 15,000 units over five years and mostly targeted middle-income earners. This programme is the first to prioritize slum dwellers at scale. The scale — over 240,000 units planned — and the inclusion of infrastructure like hospitals and schools make this Kenya’s most comprehensive urban renewal effort in decades.
Are there concerns about gentrification or displacement?
Yes. While the government insists no one was forcibly removed, some informal traders who operated near the old Mukuru settlement lost their livelihoods as the area was redeveloped. To mitigate this, the government created 300 new vendor stalls within the new complex and offered training grants to 500 former street vendors. Still, critics say the pace of change outstrips economic support for those left behind.
What’s the timeline for the rest of the Affordable Housing Programme?
By 2027, the government aims to complete 140,000 units nationwide. Kibera and Mathare are next, with handovers expected in late 2026. Rural housing projects in Kakamega, Turkana, and Kisii are scheduled to begin in 2026. The ultimate goal — housing five million Kenyans by 2030 — remains on track, though funding gaps and supply chain delays could push the timeline slightly.
Cheryl Jonah
December 19, 2025 AT 19:15They’re not giving houses-they’re planting flags. This is just the first step before the NSA starts monitoring every toilet flush. You think they care about dignity? Nah. They just want to track where the ‘undesirables’ are living now. CCTV on every floor, facial recognition at the elevator. Welcome to the new surveillance utopia. 🤖