William Ruto Claims Mukuru Slums Now Look Like Europe: "We're Building 14k Houses"

• President William Ruto stated that construction of affordable houses across the country is actively ongoing in 33 sites, including Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums
• Ruto said the government collects KSh 6 billion monthly through the housing levy to facilitate the project
• He asserted that Mukuru Kwa Njenga has transformed its look since the project began, likening it to a European city

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto has confirmed the ongoing construction of 14,000 modern houses in one of Kenya's sprawling slums, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, through the Housing Fund.

Ruto emphasised that the development at Mukuru kwa Njenga has significantly changed the slum into what he described as a modern city, likening its transformation to a European town.

"I want to ask you to go to Mukuru. We are building 14,000 houses there. If you go there today, you will not think it is a slum. You will think it is in Europe," Ruto said.

How much does the housing fund gain monthly?

Addressing the media at the state house on Sunday, December 17, Ruto said that the government had collected an average of KSh 6 billion in monthly housing levy since the housing fund was enacted.

The head of state stated that the funds have been directed towards building multiple facilities at 33 operational locations throughout the nation.

The housing levy was declared null and void and discriminatory by a court ruling. However, according to Ruto, the ruling was not far-reaching, stating that what the court just wanted was to have proper legislation governing the fund.

"I know we’ve been collecting, on average, KSh 6 billion on the housing levy. That money is already constructing houses under the framework of the Ministry of Housing. Some of it we have allocated to the National Housing Corporation, and the building of houses is going full steam across Kenya. The court only said we should fine-tune the framework," he added.

The houses have different costs, including KSh 3 million, KSh 1 million, and KSh 400,000 per house, depending on their sizes.

The fund addresses the housing shortage for urban low-income residents and provides significant opportunities for millions of struggling young people to find employment.

Housing Fund meant to reduce mortgage cost

Speaking at the US-Africa Investment Forum in New York, USA, the president stated that the Kenyan Kwanza government focuses on the cost of land, finance, and mortgage to make affordable housing a reality.

Ruto explained that, by evaluating the three basic factors, the cost of owning a house could significantly be brought down.

"I managed to persuade the people of Kenya that we need a housing levy to raise resources for financing development and, most importantly, offtake using mortgages. A house that today costs KSh 15 million can be brought down to KSh 5 million by sorting out the three factors—land cost, capital, and mortgage," said Ruto.