Nairobi, Kenya — President William Ruto on Tuesday handed over the keys to 1,080 new homes in Nairobi’s Mukuru area, marking what he called the proudest moment of his political life.
Standing before hundreds of residents, many of whom have lived for decades in crowded, informal settlements, Ruto called the event “the most consequential day in my political career.”
“These are not just houses,” he said. “These are homes. These are keys to dignity, safety and opportunity.”
The units form part of the expansive New Mukuru Housing Estate, a government-led development that will eventually feature more than 13,000 affordable homes. Once complete, it will be the largest residential project in Kenya’s history.
Tuesday’s handover marked the completion of Phase 1, which includes 5,616 bedsitters. Construction is already underway on two other phases comprising a total of 3,024 one-bedroom and 4,608 two-bedroom units.
The President framed the development as a cornerstone of his administration’s affordable housing agenda, a programme aimed at addressing Nairobi’s growing housing crisis while creating jobs for young people.
“In these homes, we are not just building walls and roofs,” Ruto said. “We are giving families clean water, working sanitation, and a secure place to raise their children things that every Kenyan deserves.”
For decades, Mukuru has symbolized the challenges of Kenya’s urban sprawl a sprawling informal settlement with limited access to basic services. The government says this new housing initiative is an attempt to change that narrative.
Reaction on the ground was mixed. Many residents welcomed the handover, though some voiced concerns about transparency and future affordability.
“I’m happy to see these new flats,” said Lucy Mwikali, a mother of three who has lived in Mukuru for 18 years. “But we need clear information. Who exactly gets the keys? Will we be pushed out by higher costs later?”
The government insists that the project targets low-income earners and will remain affordable. State officials say more than 200 similar housing projects are now underway across the country, together employing over 200,000 young people in construction and related trades.
“And Mukuru is just the beginning,” Ruto said. “We are building a new future one home at a time.”
Still, questions linger over long-term maintenance, tenant selection, and whether the units will reach the intended beneficiaries. Analysts say the success of the project will ultimately be judged not by the ribbon-cutting, but by how many families truly find a better life inside these walls.
For now, though, for many in Mukuru, the promise of a secure home has moved from dream to doorstep.
