Ndii says affordable housing is 'not for the poor' as unit prices rise 20%
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President William Ruto's economic adviser David Ndii has defended the Affordable Housing Programme as inclusive middle-class housing rather than a scheme for the poorest, as Boma Yangu prices for government units rose by a fifth.
President William Ruto's economic adviser David Ndii has defended the government's Affordable Housing Programme, saying it is designed to create an inclusive middle-class society rather than target low-income earners exclusively.
In a post on his X account on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Ndii said the programme seeks to make quality housing accessible to Kenyans across different income levels, dismissing what he described as distortions about its intended beneficiaries. "Affordable Housing is not for the poor. It's inclusive middle-class housing that enables low-income people to enjoy same standard of living with the rest of us, including enabling their children to swim," he said. He added: "AHP is not for the poor. Our goal is to make quality housing affordable by all."
Ndii also challenged the perception that informal settlements and slums are interchangeable, arguing that some established residential neighbourhoods face conditions that qualify them as slums. "Many people seem to equate slums to informal settlements. Pipeline is a slum. Zimmerman is slum. We aim to eradicate all slums," he said.
His remarks come amid debate over the affordability of government housing after a price revision that took effect on October 1, 2026. Figures published on the Boma Yangu platform showed prices for affordable housing units rose by 20 per cent, with a studio increasing from Ksh1.5 million to Ksh1.8 million, a one-bedroom unit from Ksh2 million to Ksh2.4 million and a two-bedroom unit from Ksh3 million to Ksh3.6 million.
Market housing prices rose by 10 per cent over the same period, with a two-bedroom unit moving from Ksh3.6 million to Ksh3.96 million and a three-bedroom unit from Ksh4.8 million to Ksh5.28 million.
Household expenditure figures covering 3,435 households, published alongside the report, show food absorbing 52 per cent of household income while rent takes up nine per cent. Education and transport each account for six per cent, energy five per cent and other household goods and services the remaining 22 per cent, highlighting the competing demands on budgets as the government promotes home ownership.