Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga has moved to clarify reports that Kenyans withdrew Ksh2.56 billion from the Boma Yangu Affordable Housing Savings platform, insisting that the widely circulated figure has been misunderstood.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Hinga said the Ksh2.56 billion cited in recent media reports does not represent money that has left the Affordable Housing Programme. Instead, he explained that the bulk of the amount was redirected by savers toward purchasing affordable housing units, while only a smaller portion was withdrawn for personal use.

According to Hinga, more than two-thirds of the Ksh2.56 billion was used as deposits for affordable housing units outside the Park Road project, meaning the money remained within the government’s housing programme.

“Then we have Ksh803 million, which is 31.4 per cent, which is money that now has actually been withdrawn; even in your home you withdraw money from important savings accounts when you need to,” Hinga said.

His remarks come after reports indicated that refunds from the voluntary Boma Yangu savings scheme had reached Ksh2.56 billion, nearly half of the Ksh5.47 billion mobilised through the platform since its launch.

The figures sparked concerns that large numbers of Kenyans were abandoning the Affordable Housing Programme amid criticism over affordability and the mandatory housing levy.

However, Hinga argued that interpreting the Ksh2.56 billion as money exiting the scheme paints an inaccurate picture.

He explained that approximately Ksh1.76 billion of the reported amount was instead converted into deposits for Kenyans purchasing affordable housing units, leaving only Ksh803 million as actual withdrawals made for personal reasons.

Why Kenyans are withdrawing money from Boma Yangu

The Housing PS acknowledged that some contributors have opted to withdraw their savings but maintained that many have done so for legitimate financial needs rather than because they have lost confidence in the programme.

According to Hinga, some contributors withdraw money to meet urgent expenses such as paying school fees, while others have been influenced by political statements questioning the future of the Affordable Housing Programme.

“As I said, you can withdraw school fees when they are due. And people also withdraw when they get spooked. When they hear politicians say that they will kill the housing project when we come in, people panic, and they withdraw the money because they don’t want to lose their money,” he said.

The Affordable Housing Programme has become one of the government’s flagship projects but has also faced sustained criticism from sections of the opposition, with some leaders pledging to scrap the housing levy if elected.

Audit concerns

The debate over Boma Yangu withdrawals intensified after the Auditor General’s report showed refunds had climbed sharply from Ksh788 million in May 2025 to Ksh2.56 billion, attributing the increase partly to public perception and economic pressures.

The report also noted that despite the withdrawals, net savings on the platform had continued to grow to Ksh3 billion due to fresh contributions by new and existing savers.

It further highlighted affordability concerns, revealing that only about 30 per cent of the platform’s 1.26 million registered users are actively saving.

Responding to the report, Hinga said the State Department had itself requested additional scrutiny from the Auditor General to enhance transparency.

“So we felt that this article, while it relied on data, relied on data from the Auditor General. And by the way, we called the Auditor General ourselves. I wrote to the Auditor-General, and we asked the Auditor-General to come and audit us outside the statutory audit,” he said.

Despite the concerns raised by the Auditor-General and the increase in withdrawals, Hinga maintained that the Affordable Housing Programme remains financially stable.

He said overall savings on the Boma Yangu platform continue to exceed withdrawals and argued that the government’s housing initiative remains on course.

According to the Housing PS, the Ksh2.56 billion figure should not be viewed as evidence that Kenyans are abandoning the programme but rather as a combination of home purchase deposits and genuine withdrawals made for personal financial needs.

His clarification comes as public interest in the Boma Yangu savings scheme, the Affordable Housing Programme, and the housing levy continues to grow, with many Kenyans seeking clarity on how their savings are managed and whether they can access their contributions when needed.