Kenya shifts affordable housing to local manufacturers
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President William Ruto announced in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, that Kenya will cease importing lifts for its Affordable Housing Programme and instead rely on seven local manufacturers.
He made this announcement while handing over 2,157 homes at the Pioneer Affordable Housing Project. Ruto stated that imported lifts currently make up only 3% of materials used in the project, and this change will support Kenyan industries and reduce dependence on imports.
The Sh5.37 billion Pioneer Estate includes 15 apartment blocks and over 2,000 residential units, alongside amenities like a swimming pool and sports courts. Ruto defended the programme against criticism, pointing to the completed estate as proof of the government’s commitment to accessible homeownership for Kenyans, especially young people and low-income earners. The project also prioritised local sourcing of materials. Jua Kali artisans, small-scale metalworkers, supplied over 2,200 steel doors and 6,400 windows, receiving Sh264 million in funding.
More than 97% of the construction materials came from within Kenya, and the project employed over 1,000 people at its peak. Ruto anticipates the wider housing programme will create over two million jobs by 2027, and the government plans to build 45,000 affordable homes by December 2027.
