[PHOTOS] Ruto commissions new police housing units at Embakasi ‘A’ Campus

President William Ruto has commissioned police houses at the National Police Service Embakasi 'A' Campus Housing Unit, Nairobi.

The president further handed over the keys of the units to the beneficiaries of the housing programme.

“Police officers go out of their way to protect Kenyans and their property.

We will ensure they live and work in a decent environment to keep our country safe and secure,” Ruto said.

Police officers in Kenya grapple with longstanding housing challenges, with many still living in cramped, dilapidated, or makeshift iron-sheet structures that fall far below acceptable living standards.

The situation is most dire in areas where police stations were built without accompanying residential facilities, forcing officers to live in shared iron-sheet barracks with limited privacy and poor ventilation.

In some instances, up to four officers share a tiny room partitioned with curtains or plywood, while sanitation facilities are inadequate or located far from the living quarters.

These conditions have also contributed to family strain, mental health challenges, and difficulties in maintaining work-life balance.

The government has in recent years intensified efforts to address the longstanding housing challenges faced by police officers.

One of the most notable initiatives is the construction of modern, multi-storey police housing units in various parts of the country, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where the shortage has been most acute.

These projects, implemented through the National Police Service, the Ministry of Interior, and the State Department for Housing, aim to replace ageing iron-sheet structures with dignified, well-planned apartments equipped with water, electricity, and sanitation infrastructure.

Some of the new units have already been completed and handed over.

The affordable housing programme under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) has also prioritised police officers as key beneficiaries.

Several projects under the programme include dedicated units for security personnel, recognising the critical role they play in national stability.