Ruto hints at expanding use of housing levy funds beyond govt developments
By Emmanuel Rono, April 1, 2026President William Ruto has announced a strategic partnership between the government and Maendeleo Ya Wanawake, allocating a portion of the Affordable Housing Fund to develop residential and infrastructure projects on the organisation’s landholdings nationwide.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the State House, Nairobi, Ruto directed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to work out a framework that will enable the group to access the funds for the development of their estates.
President Ruto’s directive followed requests from the women’s group, who had attended the Maendeleo ya Wanawake meeting with the head of state, who requested the government’s support in accessing tenders, strengthening SACCO systems, securing tax incentives, and unlocking the potential of their land holdings.
Funds allocated remains public resources
President Ruto noted that the organisation’s vast land ownership provides a ready-made foundation for the Affordable Housing Programme, creating a viable pathway for collaborative development across the country.
He clarified that any funds allocated under the arrangement would remain public resources and must be returned to the Affordable Housing scheme upon completion of the projects.
Ruto directed CS Wahome to sit down with the leadership so that they can help them develop plots on the Affordable Housing programme.
“You have said you have land for development across the country. Is that right? I want you, CS Mama Alice, to sit down with their leadership so that we can help them develop those plots on the Affordable Housing programme,” Ruto said.
“We will create a model. You know that the Affordable Housing project money belongs to Kenyans. There is a model that we will put there to help the houses and land. We will, however, return that money upon the completion of the investment and development,” he added.
Affordable Housing plan faces threat
This comes amid speculations that the affordable housing programme could face delays as the Ministry of Housing cautions that funding constraints threaten its progress.
During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Housing, Charles Hinga, disclosed that donor contributions to the programme have been slashed by Ksh800 million in the Financial Year 2025/2026 Supplementary Budget from Ksh13.3 billion to Ksh12.5 billion.
“Currently we have 1,700 ongoing housing projects. We also have a personnel shortage, some officers are working up to three shifts due to understaffing,” he said.
“Under the proposed FY 2025/2026 Supplementary Budget, a reduction of Ksh800 million has been made to the programme’s donor funding allocation, lowering the total budget from Ksh 13.341 billion to Ksh12.541 billion.”