Government Dismisses Claims Kenyans Are Abandoning Affordable Housing Programme

The government has rejected claims that Kenyans are leaving the Affordable Housing Programme, saying official data shows that registrations, savings and home purchases continue to increase.

Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga said reports of widespread withdrawals from the Boma Yangu savings platform were misleading. He said official figures show steady growth in both membership and deposits.

Cumulative savings have risen from Sh2.47 billion in May 2025 to Sh5.47 billion, while registrations have increased from 1.02 million to 1.26 million. About 30 percent of registered users are actively saving towards buying a home.

Hinga also addressed figures that had been presented as evidence of large-scale withdrawals. He said the Sh1.77 billion increase recorded under the platform's refunds category mainly reflected savings that had been used to buy completed homes rather than money returned to contributors. 

Of that amount, Sh1.76 billion was applied to completed housing units, while actual refunds increased only slightly, from Sh788.2 million to Sh803.3 million. He said the figures showed that many participants were completing home purchases rather than leaving the programme.

The voluntary savings scheme is intended to help prospective buyers raise the minimum five per cent deposit required under the Affordable Housing Programme. Hinga said the government expects to complete 45,000 housing units by the end of this year, with another 15,000 due for completion in the first half of 2027.

He said demand for the homes continues to exceed supply. The Mukuru housing project in Nairobi has received 24,000 applications for 13,000 units, and officials expect similar demand for future developments.

Hinga urged Kenyans to ignore political criticism of the programme, saying inaccurate information could undermine an initiative aimed at reducing the country's housing shortage while supporting economic growth and employment through construction. He said 1.26 million Kenyans had registered on the Boma Yangu platform and had begun the process of owning a home.

The Affordable Housing Programme remains a key part of the government's housing policy. It is intended to increase the supply of affordable homes while supporting wider economic activity. 

The latest figures show continued growth in registrations, savings and completed home purchases, which the government says reflects sustained participation in the programme.