Boma Yangu says sub-Ksh20,000 earners qualify for affordable housing after Ndii row
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Kenya's Boma Yangu platform says the Affordable Housing Programme covers households earning below Ksh20,000 a month through its social housing category, and that deposit support is available, after David Ndii's remarks that the scheme is not for the poor.
Boma Yangu, the State Department for Housing platform, has said the Affordable Housing Programme caters to Kenyans across income levels, including those earning below Ksh20,000 a month, in response to an inquiry following remarks by President William Ruto's economic adviser David Ndii that the programme is not intended for the poorest households.
"Yes, the Affordable Housing Programme caters to Kenyans across different income levels, including those earning below Ksh20,000 per month. The Social Housing category is specifically designed for this income group," the platform said.
Boma Yangu added that eligible applicants who cannot raise the required five per cent deposit may apply for deposit assistance through the Affordable Housing Board.
Under the programme's income classification, social housing targets households earning up to Ksh19,999 a month, low-cost housing serves those earning between Ksh20,000 and Ksh49,999, and the mortgage-gap category covers households earning between Ksh50,000 and Ksh149,999.
Ndii had argued that the programme was intended to promote an inclusive middle-class society rather than exclusively provide housing for the poorest households, saying affordable housing "is not for the poor". His comments sparked debate over who can realistically access the units, particularly among low-income households that may struggle to raise deposits and monthly payments.
The clarification places the social housing category at the centre of the affordability debate, while leaving open how applicants in the lowest income band meet deposit and repayment obligations in practice.