Milka Moraa Tegisi, a woman from Mukuru kwa Njenga slums who was humiliated by a city pastor after going to church to seek help with rent is set to be among the first beneficiaries of the government’s Affordable Housing Program.
Moraa’s case came to the limelight after she visited a city church to seek help, only to be turned down by the city pastor with harsh words
“Pastor nimefungiwa nyumba one week leo,” Milka said amid tears.
The pastor told her that such help is usually found at police stations and that is where she should have gone first before even making her way to his church.
“Enda polisi. Polisi ya kwenu ni wapi? Sasa umefungiwa, umekuja hapa kutafuta pesa. Hapa ni kwa maombi. Kama ni mambo ya maombi, sawa. Pesa, enda kwa cabinet. Enda kwa Sakaja,” the pastor blasted her.
Affordable Housing
As if that was not enough, Ng’ang’a went on to parade her and tell her off, saying he had heard that the government had introduced something called affordable housing and that she should go and stay in those houses.
“Si kuna nyumba zimejengwa zinaitwa affordable? Si uende ukae hizo za affordable? Ndio nasema shida ya nyumba usiniletee. Shida ya nyumba enda kwa government. Me I deal with spiritual matters. Mambo kuhusu pesa, don’t come here expecting money,” Ng’ang’a said.
For years, Moraa and her family have lived in deplorable conditions, struggling with inadequate shelter, lack of basic amenities, and insecurity. But today, Moraa is on the cusp of a life-changing opportunity — the chance to own a home in the upcoming Mukuru Social housing project in Nairobi County.
While this experience was painful, it turned out to be a turning point— because the government has taken up the challenge and is now walking with her on a journey that will change her life forever.
Moraa is an example of thousands of Kenyans living in informal settlements, with lack of proper sanitation, clean water.
Such environments presents daily health risks, constant displacement and emotional and physical distress. Most families in the slums live in makeshift homes making them vulnerable to flooding, fire outbreaks, and other hazards.
With the advent of the Affordable Housing Program such and other Kenyans can be able to afford decent, affordable, and secure housing.
After Kenyans of goodwill came to her rescue, raising over Ksh450,000 for her after the ordeal, whe will now shift to the Affordable Housing units when the government hands over keys to the first beneficiaries in the Mukuru project.
In her current house, she pays a monthly rent of Ksh4,000 but with the Affordable Housing project, whe will pay less, and at the long run, own the house.
Acting CEO of the Affordable Housing Board Sheila Waweru says Moraa’s journey will not only highlight the struggles that so many face, but also the tangible change that the Affordable Housing Program is bringing to communities.
Wawer says the government’s support, including subsidies, low-interest financing, and simplified application processes, is making it possible for people like Moraa to step out of the cycle of poverty and into the safety and stability of homeownership.
“Moraa pays a rent of Ksh4,000 per month which she had been unable to raise. Luckily, because of Kenyans of goodwill, she has a job which is paying Ksh18,000 and with that she can be able to have a house at one of our major projects, that is Mukuru, where we have over 13,000 units,” Waweru says.
The Affordable Housing Program is a critical pillar of the Kenya Kwanza Government and the Kenya’s Vision 2030, aimed at addressing the country’s housing deficit and uplifting the lives of millions of Kenyans. The program encourages community development, reduces slum growth, and contributes to the overall economic development of the country.
“We are not just building houses. It’s a whole community that has different facilities including educational and medical facilities and adequeate free area for children to play. You can imagine the improvement in her quality of life,” Waweru adds.
In December 2024, the government has put up for sale 4,888 affordable housing units across the country built under the Affordable Housing Programme.
The units fall under three categories including Social Housing, Affordable Housing and Affordable Middle Class Housing.
Social Housing is housing designed for people earning less than Ksh20,000 per month. These persons are also eligible for Deposit Assistance. Deposit assistance refers to financial support provided to homebuyers to help them cover the initial deposit payment required when purchasing an affordable housing unit.
Affordable Housing targets Kenyans with a monthly income between Ksh20,000 and Ksh149,000.
Affordable Middle-Class Housing is meant for people earning over Ksh149,000 per month.
“We are to announce the launch of the sale of affordable housing units, reaffirming our commitment to providing quality homes for all Kenyans,” the government says on the Boma Yangu platform.
The units are spread across 21 AHP/Social housing projects that are near completion, comprising studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units.
Every Kenyan is eligible to purchase a unit based on the, ‘One ID, One Housing unit’ principle.
Read: How Affordable Housing Project In My Town Transformed My Life: Beneficiaries Tell Their Stories
>>> Govt Kicks off Process for Kenyans to Acquire Units Under Affordable Housing
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