All the 1,050 affordable housing units under construction in Ruiru, Kiambu County, have already been sold out two months before completion in what officials are calling a major vote of confidence in the government’s affordable housing program.
The Ksh1.8 billion project, located on a six-acre parcel formerly owned by the Public Works Department, has drawn overwhelming interest from ordinary Kenyans, confirming the strong demand for low-cost housing across the country.
During an inspection tour on Tuesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, led by Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno, praised the progress of the project, saying it was within schedule and proof that Kenyans have fully embraced the affordable housing initiative.
Ng’eno said 80 percent of the new homeowners are low- and middle-income earners the so-called “hustlers” dismissing claims that the units had been taken over by the wealthy.
“Our main role is to ensure public funds are used properly. From what we have seen in Ruiru, the work is commendable, and the results are impressive,” Ng’eno said.
Ruiru MP Simon King’ara, who accompanied the committee, said the project has boosted the local economy by creating hundreds of jobs for youth and offering opportunities for small-scale traders supplying goods to construction workers.
“This project is a game changer for our constituency. It has not only created employment but also positioned Ruiru as a fast-growing urban hub,” King’ara said.
He, however, urged the government to expand social amenities such as schools, hospitals, and roads to match the expected population increase once the homeowners move in.
In Thika, where four similar housing projects are ongoing, the committee expressed satisfaction with progress despite minor challenges. Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a said the initiative is transforming her constituency and reaffirmed Parliament’s support for the national housing agenda.
