Mukuru affordable housing registration kicks off, targets 2,000 residents

Affordable Housing Board official Ruth Wekesa and Nairobi South Ward MCA Waithera Chege at the registration exercise on September 16, 2025. (Photo: Handout)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Ruth Wekesa, an official with the Affordable Housing Board, said the current registration is focused on applicants who were previously enumerated by the Slum Upgrading Department.

Phase two of registration for the Mukuru Affordable Housing Project has kicked off, targeting close to 2,000 residents from informal settlements in South B, Nairobi.

The exercise began on Tuesday in Nairobi South Ward, four months after the initial launch of the project.

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Ruth Wekesa, an official with the Affordable Housing Board, said the current registration is focused on applicants who were previously enumerated by the Slum Upgrading Department.

“Today, we are dealing with those who have undergone the enumeration process that was conducted by the Slum Upgrading Department. We are putting them into the system and helping them to apply for studio units located at New Mukuru Estate,” she explained.

Area MCA Waithera Chege emphasised that this phase is designed to expand access to affordable homes. “In this second phase, we are targeting at least 2,000 residents. If you look at Mariguini, that project started way back, and as of today, we have managed to register over 600 people,” she said.

Residents attending the registration said the initiative has given them hope of moving from informal settlements to proper housing.

“My application has gone through because the process has been simplified. I needed to produce my KRA PIN, KRA Compliance Certificate, and a six-month M-PESA statement. I have registered for a bed-sitter,” one resident told Eastleighvoice.

Another hopeful resident encouraged more people to participate: “My people, it is true, stop doubting this thing because I already have a house. I have already signed the agreement, so come and try your luck.”

The registration drive also allowed residents to directly voice questions and concerns to housing officials. The current phase concludes today, while new applicants will be considered from Wednesday.

The government also confirmed that the next registration window, scheduled for January, will include one- and two-bedroom units.

Earlier this year, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga disclosed that the payments are structured to match what many of the residents were already paying in informal settlements, but now with the benefit of owning the units over time.

“They will pay Sh2,800 per month, but it is not rent…it is rent-to-own,” said PS Hinga during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive show.

The PS explained that the payment includes a Sh1,000 service charge, which is already heavily subsidised, and an additional Sh200 for insurance.

“Through this housing programme, there are several subsidies, because, for example, in there, the service charge should be about Sh3,000 per month, which is already more than what they will pay,” said Hinga.

“And because these are the most vulnerable in our society, the government steps in and provides a subsidy of Sh2,000, and they only pay Sh1,000. And then they will also pay Sh200 for insurance, which is important because should anything happen to you, there is a life cover and tenure of security.”