Affordable Housing Programme Expands Digital Access to Home Ownership Across Kenya

By Our Reporter  Maurice Momanyi

The government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) is stepping up efforts to make home ownership more transparent and accessible by leveraging digital technology through the Boma Yangu platform, while also equipping young Kenyans with digital skills to improve their employability.

According to a press statement released by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the programme has partnered with Safaricom and Huawei to launch a nationwide digital training initiative targeting youth living in affordable housing estates. The first cohort of 80 trainees graduated from Mukuru Boma Yangu Estate in Nairobi after receiving training in digital literacy, software engineering and online entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga said the Affordable Housing Programme has evolved beyond constructing houses into a digital transformation initiative aimed at empowering communities.

“Affordable housing is not only a construction programme; it is also a digital transformation programme that gives the youth digital skills they need to participate in a modern economy,” Hinga said.

At the centre of the transformation is the Boma Yangu digital platform, which allows Kenyans to register, save towards home ownership and monitor the allocation process online. The government says the platform currently features 128 affordable housing projects, with more than 1.2 million Kenyans having registered and expressed interest in owning homes across the country. The system allocates houses on a first-come, first-served basis once applicants attain the required five percent deposit.

To make the programme more inclusive, the government has introduced a *USSD code (832#) for applicants without smartphones or reliable internet access. The platform also enables Kenyans living abroad to register, save and follow the allocation process remotely, reinforcing the government’s push for transparency and equal access.

The statement also highlights significant progress in Western Kenya, where several housing projects are either complete or under construction. These include the completed Lurambi Affordable Housing Project in Kakamega with 220 units, and ongoing developments in Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Funyula and Likuyani, offering thousands of additional housing units complete with schools, community centres, commercial spaces and other social amenities.

Beneficiaries say the digital platform has simplified what was once viewed as a complex process. Vihiga resident Felistus Wangila noted that the ability to view projects, understand the application process and save through official channels has increased public confidence while reducing reliance on brokers and misinformation.

Beyond delivering affordable homes, the government’s latest initiative demonstrates a broader strategy of integrating technology into public service delivery. By combining digital skills training with an online home ownership platform, the Affordable Housing Programme aims to improve transparency, widen access and create economic opportunities for young people while addressing Kenya’s housing deficit.

The programme forms part of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to reduce the country’s housing shortage, stimulate job creation and promote sustainable urban development.