Housing project: Why number of workers do not add up

Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and Laikipa MP Jane Kagiri inspecting Nanyuki Affordable Housing Programme. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] The latest revelation that the affordable housing program (AHP) has created almost half a million jobs so far casts a shadow of doubt on the exact number of opportunities this initiative has offered as announced by the government. Barely a month after his Ukambani tour, where he pronounced that the AHP has created 600,000 jobs, President William Ruto on Thursday said the program has employed 428,000. These conflicting numbers, that have become synonymous with his pronouncements on AHP, raise questions if the government is exaggerating or guessing the figures. In last year's state of the nation address, President Ruto announced that by then, November 2024, the AHP had offered 164,000 jobs. As such, it means in just a year, the program has created another 264,000 jobs. "The housing program including markets and hostels has created over 428,000 jobs that include architects, plumbers, electricians, engineers, plumbers, steelworkers, transporters and thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in fittings, fabrication and interior design works," said President Ruto at this year's state of the nation address. He added: "At peak next year, it will employ at least one million Kenyans." During a rally in Makueni County, President Ruto said the AHP has created 600,000 jobs nationwide. For context, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2025 Economic Survey Report, Kenya's economy created 782,300 jobs in 2024. As such, it means AHP has been responsible for 76.7 per cent of new jobs created in the country - when the 600,000 figure is considered. If 428,000 is considered, then it means the program is responsible for a third of all new jobs in the economy. "This program is far from housing," said President Ruto. "It is a national empowerment engine creating jobs, formalising the informal sector, revitalising MSMEs, restoring our environment and building resilient communities." As he threw jabs at critics of the AHP, he said the program advances equity, dignity and suitable development. However, in this year's address, he avoided giving a breakdown on how many units have been completed so far, or in the past one year. In the 2024 address, he announced 4,888 units. Data from the Affordable Housing Board reveals 1,795 units completed in the 12 months to June 2025. AHB records that Sh6.2 billion is collected monthly through this tax, a growth from Sh5.5 billion when it was first introduced two years ago albeit with resistance from Kenyans. The board has plans to increase this figure to Sh9 billion monthly as the tax bracket expands. In the year ended June 2025, the levy fetched Sh73 billion but barely 1,800 units were completed in the same period. He said the government has 230,000 units it is delivering across the country. The plan, according to his manifesto, was to deliver 200,000 units annually. In addition, there are 270 modern markets being constructed and 178,000 student hostels targeting university and college students. Some 74,000 student hostel units are already under construction. "Three years ago, when we said we would deliver affordable housing, the cynics dismissed it, they said it was fantasy," he said. "Today these doubts have given way to a very different question from Kenyans: how do I own one of the units."

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