Only One Family Moves Into Mukuru’s New Homes As Questions Swirl Over Beneficiaries
Two days after President William Ruto ceremoniously handed over 1,080 newly built government housing units to residents of Mukuru kwa Njenga, only a single unit is currently occupied, raising questions about transparency, preparedness, and beneficiary selection in the ambitious housing project.
As the majority of the gleaming new apartments remain padlocked and untouched, one family — that of Jerusha Muthoni — has moved into their new home. Her transition from the congested slums of Mukuru to modern housing underscores both the promise and the controversy surrounding the New Mukuru Housing Estate project.
The Affordable Housing Board has downplayed the low occupancy, maintaining that June 1, 2025, remains the official move-in date. “Officially, we had set up that they will move in from 1st June, but they can move in as they wish,” said Shila Waweru, the acting CEO of the Affordable Housing Board.
Waweru explained that the delay in occupation is largely due to the ongoing installation of key utilities and final touches to infrastructure.
Still, the near-empty housing blocks have stirred public suspicion. Local residents and social justice groups have alleged that many of the intended occupants are not original dwellers of Mukuru kwa Njenga, but individuals brought in from other areas — possibly through backdoor allocations.
The Board has firmly denied these claims, insisting that all listed beneficiaries were properly vetted and are bonafide residents of the area.
The New Mukuru Housing Estate, slated to deliver a total of 13,248 homes, is one of the largest affordable housing initiatives in Kenya’s history and a key pillar in President Ruto’s housing agenda. However, the slow uptake and emerging questions over the selection process threaten to dent public confidence in the project.
For now, Muthoni remains the lone resident in a development meant to signal a new era for thousands. Whether her neighbors will soon join her, or whether deeper issues are at play, remains to be seen.
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Only One Family Moves Into Mukuru’s New Homes As Questions Swirl Over Beneficiaries