Beneficiaries of the Government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) are reporting improved living conditions and greater security after moving from informal settlements into newly developed homes.
For some residents, the housing programme has also eased the burden of monthly rent by allowing them to make manageable payments towards home ownership, even when their incomes are irregular.
Albert Ombati, a casual worker without a fixed monthly salary, said he pays KSh3,900 a month for his unit but can make smaller payments of KSh500 or KSh1,000 when his income is low before clearing the outstanding balance.
The flexible payment arrangement, he said, has made it possible for him to pursue home ownership despite the uncertainty associated with casual employment.
For Lucy Njoroge, moving into an affordable housing unit has significantly reduced her monthly housing costs.
Njoroge said she previously paid KSh7,500 in rent and was also required to purchase water, adding to her household expenses.
The beneficiaries said the programme has provided more than just shelter, with the new estates offering a safer and more organised environment compared with the informal settlements where they previously lived.
Three housing categories
The Affordable Housing Programme is structured into three categories — social, affordable and market housing — to cater for Kenyans across different income levels.
Social housing targets households earning less than KSh20,000 per month.
Under this category, a studio unit costs KSh640,000, a one-bedroom unit KSh960,000, while a two-bedroom unit is priced at KSh1.28 million.
Monthly repayments for the social housing units range between KSh4,200 and KSh6,800, depending on the type of unit.
Affordable housing is targeted at Kenyans earning between KSh20,000 and KSh150,000 a month, while market housing is designed for those earning above KSh150,000.
The Government says the programme is intended to expand access to home ownership for households that would otherwise struggle to purchase property through conventional housing finance.
Thousands allocated homes
According to Government figures, 1.3 million Kenyans have opened Boma Yangu accounts and contributed at least KSh200 towards the programme.
Of those registered, about 38,000 have applied for homes, approximately 11,000 have received allocations, while around 5,300 are already occupying their units.
So far, 8,800 housing units have been completed, with another 277,000 homes in the pipeline across the country.
The programme also provides an option for beneficiaries experiencing financial difficulties to restructure their payments or seek allocation to a cheaper unit.
This flexibility is aimed at helping beneficiaries remain in the programme even when their financial circumstances change.
Safer environment for families
For Kennedy Nganga, the decision to move into an affordable housing unit was also motivated by the need for a safer environment for his family.
Nganga moved into his house in April after receiving assistance with a KSh32,000 deposit.
He said the new neighbourhood provides a suitable environment, although residents continue to experience water shortages within their homes and are sometimes forced to collect water from a communal point.
The water challenge, however, has not diminished his appreciation of the new home.
Nganga previously lived in an area affected by flooding, an experience that influenced his decision to move his mother into the new house.
He now plans to leave the unit to his mother while applying for another affordable housing unit for himself.
The experiences of the beneficiaries highlight the programme’s intended shift from rental housing and informal settlements towards structured home ownership, while also exposing some of the challenges that need to be addressed as the Government expands the programme.
For residents such as Ombati, Njoroge and Nganga, the key attraction is the prospect of owning a decent home through payments that are more manageable than the rent and living costs they previously faced.
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