Mukuru Housing Dispute Deepens as Residents Question House Allocations
Residents who paid deposits for units under the government’s Affordable Housing Programme say they have been informed that their preferred houses are no longer available.
Nairobi, Kenya | September 1, 2026
A fresh dispute has emerged over the Mukuru Affordable Housing Programme after residents who say they paid deposits for housing units raised concerns about the allocation process and the status of their applications.
Some affected residents claim they received messages through the Boma Yangu platform informing them that their preferred housing units had been sold out, despite having already deposited money towards the purchase of the homes.
The development has left applicants seeking answers about why the units they had selected were no longer available and what would happen to the money they had already contributed. Some residents say they committed significant portions of their savings, while others reportedly took loans to raise the required deposits.
The issue is particularly sensitive for some families who were displaced from their previous homes to pave the way for the government’s housing development in Mukuru. Some of the affected residents say they had expected to receive priority during the allocation of the new homes.
They are now questioning how selected units became unavailable after applicants had completed registration and savings requirements. They are also calling for greater transparency over the allocation process and information on the alternative units available to those who have not secured their preferred homes.
The Affordable Housing Board has acknowledged concerns surrounding applicants who deposited money but have not yet secured alternative units. The board says thousands of applicants remain in the process of being matched with available houses.
The response has, however, done little to ease concerns among some affected residents, who want clearer information about their deposits, application status and options for securing alternative units.
The dispute has also renewed wider questions about the implementation of the Affordable Housing Programme, particularly the transparency of the allocation system and whether displaced residents are receiving the priority they expected.
The Mukuru project is one of the government’s flagship affordable housing developments and is intended to provide modern homes to residents of informal settlements while improving access to basic services and infrastructure.
For affected families, however, the latest developments have created uncertainty over their housing prospects, with residents calling for clear explanations and greater transparency throughout the allocation process.
The residents are now urging the government to intervene and ensure that applicants who have already made payments are either considered for their preferred units where they remain available or provided with a clear and transparent alternative arrangement.