President William Ruto on Thursday, February 6, inspected the construction of 408 units of the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) in Garissa in a bid to ensure timely delivery of the houses.
The housing units that began construction in September last year are part of the nationwide project converting informal settlements into modern homes for Kenyans.
On his trip to Garissa, the Head of State reviewed the progress of the houses and had the opportunity to interact with some of the workers benefiting from the project.
Ruto said, “Millions of Kenyans live in informal settlements and in unacceptable conditions. This is untenable.”
President William Ruto interacting with workers at the Affordbale Housing Programme in Garissa, Thursday, February 6, 2025.
PCS
He added, “That is why we are determined to make our Affordable Housing Programme a success in providing decent shelter.”
Once complete, the first phase of the Garissa Affordable Housing Programme will be the first in the region, providing a template for neigbouring counties.
The project managers believe the success of the programme will allow for a second phase of the programme that sits on 6.75 acres of land.
Already, the government will release 4,800 housing units constructed under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) to the owners within the next two months. This is according to Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.
Addressing the press on Wednesday morning at Ardhi House, Nairobi, the CS said there are five blocks at Mukuru slums in Nairobi, noting that the government will be constructing about 13,200 units in the informal settlement.
“Within the next 60 days, we shall be giving out 1,080 units to the owners in Mukuru,” stated CS Wahome. The studio is the smallest and will cost Ksh640,000 with a 10 per cent deposit of Ksh64,000.
According to the government, the social housing units will range from Ksh640,000 for a studio measuring 20 square metres, with Ksh3,900 monthly rent, one bedroom (30 square metres) costing Ksh960,000 at Ksh5,350 rent per month, and two bedrooms (40 square metres) at Ksh1.28 million at Ksh6,800 rent.
Under affordable units, they will range from a studio of the same size valued at Ksh1 million with Ksh7,250 as monthly rent to three bedrooms of 60 square metres at Ksh3 million with Ksh21,680 as rent.
Also under the same category is a studio cum shop unit that is 64 square metres, costing Ksh3.2 million and Ksh23,128 in rent.
President William Ruto interacting with workers at the Affordbale Housing Programme in Garissa, Thursday, February 6, 2025.
PCS