At the heart of Mukuru kwa Njenga, 52-year-old Obed Matongo walks majestically while displaying a smiley facial expression as he heads toward newly completed houses under the government’s Affordable Housing Programme(AHP).
From makeshift shacks to modern apartments, the story of Matongo has sharply turned around. His dream of a better life has finally come true. Mr Matongo, a father of three, is now a proud beneficiary of the Social Housing Programme (SHP) under AHP
SHP is a programme that provides affordable and secure housing for low-income individuals and families, often funded by the government. It targets persons earning Ksh 20000 and below and affordable housing for incomes up to Sh149,000, as well as units for upper-middle-income earners.
‘’When this project was being launched by President William Ruto, I was here. I was working here. So, in the process, one official told me to register at Boma Yangu portal, which I did, and paid Ksh 200 for registration.’’ Said Matongo
Matongo vividly remembered, when the president visited the project once again for inspection, he was shocked to be told that he had been given a house by the government
‘’When President Ruto visited the project for inspection, I was called by a government official present, and they told me since you were among the first people to register and also involved in construction, the president has offered you a house.’’ Noted Matongo
He will settle in a bedsitter with his family and will only pay a monthly rent of Ksh 3890 for the next 30 years before fully owning the house.
‘’ I thank President William Ruto. I used to stay in a makeshift shack just around, I used to pay Ksh 3000 monthly, but no water, no decency. Electricity bills were separate. For me, this is affordable and a game changer”, concluded Matongo.
At the new Mukuru Housing Estate, Obed Matongo and his colleague workers are racing against time to complete final touches on the units, while verification and allocation exercises gather pace.
A total of 1,080 households from the larger Mukuru kwa Njenga informal settlement are expected to receive their keys and take occupancy in the coming days. The first units are bedsitters.
George Omondi, The Mukuru kwa Njenga Housing Programme project officer, the apartment comprises of 5,616 studio, 3,024 one-bedroom, and 4,608 two-bedroom apartments that have been tastefully designed and equipped with modern amenities, including speedy lifts, refuse chutes, a courtyard, stormwater drainage, sewer connection, a day care centre, and parking spaces.
‘’We are also in the process of building a level IV Hospital, a comprehensive school, a fire station, and a Mall,’’ Said Omondi.
According to Omondi, the verification process for beneficiaries is currently underway
‘’Over 1000 of the 1,080 households had already been verified. beneficiaries underwent a rigorous process, from enumeration, registration, and application through Boma Yangu, to verification and final allocation’’ Added Omondi.
He encouraged locals to activate their account by saving a minimum of KSH 200, and after activation, they can save any amount at any time, as many times as they wish, through the various payment options available
For many residents of Mukuru, these keys unlock more than just homes; they open the door to dignity, stability, and a renewed sense of community.
