Experts Warn of Challenges in Ruto’s Mukuru Housing Project
The government’s affordable housing dream is under scrutiny as experts raise serious concerns about its long-term sustainability. While President William Ruto recently handed over 1,080 new housing units to residents of Mukuru slums in Nairobi, critics say the project may not deliver the lasting solution it promises.
The President described the initiative as a step toward dignified living for Kenyans in informal settlements. He emphasized that the project would not only offer decent homes but also help residents transition from makeshift shelters to property ownership.
However, some professionals in the building and construction sector are warning that the plan might create a new crisis.
Architect and urban development expert Prof. Alfred Omenya criticized the model used in the Mukuru project. Speaking on an interview with a Media station in Kenya, he questioned whether the units truly serve the people who need them most.
According to him, the approach lacks a practical framework for ensuring the homes are affordable and sustainable for low-income earners.
“How many Mukuru residents got houses?” he asked. “We need to rethink how we use taxpayers’ money to address this problem in a way that benefits the majority.”
Omenya also warned that homeowners face hidden costs. Without education on managing property, many might struggle to maintain the units or risk losing them altogether. He urged the government to implement support systems to protect the new owners.
George Ndege, President of the Architectural Association of Kenya, added that the housing units were poorly planned due to a lack of proper consultation. Key aspects like indoor air quality and structural safety were not thoroughly addressed, he said. A housing forum meant to guide the project was never activated because research funds were not disbursed.
Despite the backlash, Housing Committee Chairperson Johanna Ng’eno defended the initiative. He explained that homeowners would pay a manageable Ksh.3,900 monthly Ksh.. 2,700 toward rent-to-own, and Ksh 1,200 for service charges. Ownership would be granted after 30 years of payments.
The government has pledged to build 250,000 affordable homes annually. But as Mukuru’s project becomes the face of this promise, experts say more transparency, planning, and community involvement are needed to avoid turning hope into hardship.
By Risper Akinyi