In Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, young individuals are increasingly participating in the Government's Affordable Housing Programme. This initiative offers them an opportunity to secure homes and build assets early in life without the financial pressure associated with buying land and constructing houses. The programme has attracted many young people, including 23-year-old Shammah Kipkemboi from Turbo Sub-County.
Shammah Kipkemboi has registered for a studio unit under the social housing category at the Pioneer Housing Project in Kapseret Sub-County. He paid a deposit of Sh32,000 and will pay monthly installments of Sh3,800 towards the studio unit, which costs Sh640,000. His parents will support him with payments for the first five months before he assumes full responsibility. Kipkemboi believes that securing his housing future while still young is essential.
The Kenya School of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (KSTVET) student, who is undertaking his teaching practice at the Eldoret National Polytechnic, has not yet decided whether he will occupy the unit or rent it out. He said he had been allocated a unit on the 14th floor and was awaiting approval of his application before moving in. Kipkemboi urged young people who remained sceptical about the Affordable Housing Programme to seek more information and understand its potential benefits.
Another young person taking advantage of the programme is 27-year-old Stella Bittok, a Public Health graduate from Soy Sub-County. She has acquired a one-bedroom unit valued at Sh960,000 under the social housing category after paying a Sh48,000 deposit. She has committed to paying monthly instalments of Sh5,200 from her stipend. Bittok said the project had provided young people with employment opportunities while also creating an avenue for them to acquire homes.
Stella Bittok, who is currently working as an intern under the Affordable Housing Programme, said the project had not only created job opportunities for the youth but had also given them an opportunity to own houses without straining financially. She took a one-bedroom unit under the social housing category two months ago and will be paying Sh5,200 every month from her stipend. Bittok intends to live in the house once she moves in but could rent it out if she secures employment elsewhere.
The Pioneer Housing Project in Kapseret comprises 2,157 housing units and was 84 per cent complete at the time of the visit. The project is expected to be completed by October 10, 2026. A section of the housing units was also nearing 90 per cent completion, signalling progress towards handing over the homes to beneficiaries. The Affordable Housing Programme, launched by President William Ruto in 2022, targets the construction of at least 200,000 affordable housing units annually.
The Affordable Housing Programme provides social, affordable and market-rate housing, with beneficiaries paying for units through manageable instalments. Young people like Kipkemboi and Bittok believe that investing in housing at a young age will enable them to secure assets as they pursue education, employment and other opportunities. Their experiences illustrate how the housing programme is being viewed by some young beneficiaries not merely as a source of shelter but as a long-term financial investment.
Key points
- The Affordable Housing Programme offers young people an opportunity to secure homes and build assets early in life.
- The programme provides social, affordable and market-rate housing with manageable instalments.
- Young beneficiaries view the housing programme as a long-term financial investment.
