Nairobi – Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has said the ongoing Kibra housing redevelopment is a direct response to decades of systemic neglect. He described the project as a “structural correction of past injustices,” aimed at restoring dignity to residents who have long been excluded from formal city planning.
“For generations, families in Kibra lived without land security, basic infrastructure, or decent housing,” PS Hinga stated in an official update shared Saturday. “This redevelopment marks a deliberate effort to correct those failures.”
The project, part of the government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), seeks to improve living conditions for low-income residents by integrating them into Nairobi’s formal development plan. According to PS Hinga, the new approach prioritizes communities historically marginalized in city growth.
“For Nairobi, the transformation of Kibra represents a shift in thinking. It brings once-overlooked communities into the center of the capital’s urban agenda,” he said.
Since September 2022, the government has completed 3,171 housing units across the country under the AHP. These include:
- 584 units at Buxton Point, Mombasa
- 605 units in Nakuru’s Bondeni estate
- 1,080 units at Mukuru’s Boma Yangu estate in Nairobi
- 110 units at Boma Yangu Homa Bay estate
- 792 units constructed for security personnel across various sites
According to official records, another 161,911 units are under construction nationwide. The Ministry reports that these projects have generated 250,000 jobs both direct and indirect since the program began in 2022.
The AHP operates in alignment with Article 43(1)(b) of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to accessible and adequate housing. The government views the Kibra redevelopment as a critical step toward fulfilling this constitutional obligation.
Officials also see the housing program as a way to reduce congestion in informal settlements, ease pressure on public land, and support long-term urban planning.
The Kibra upgrade, now underway, is expected to deliver modern housing units with improved sanitation, access roads, and social amenities. The project also includes job opportunities for local residents during construction.
While the government continues to face criticism over cost, displacement, and transparency in some areas, PS Hinga’s latest remarks signal a firm commitment to keeping Kibra at the heart of Nairobi’s evolving skyline.
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