Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah speaking on the floor of the House on August 14, 2025. /SCREENGRAB
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has urged Kenyans to register and secure homes under the government’s ambitious Affordable Housing Programme, noting that deposits have been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Thursday, the Kikuyu MP said booking a house via the Boma Yangu portal has become more affordable.
“I have heard friends in the diaspora who are asking the same questions; ‘how do we in the diaspora afford or get to access these affordable housing units?’ and I have told many of them ‘you do not need to know anybody’,” Ichung’wah said.
The Affordable Housing Programme is a government initiative aimed at providing decent and affordable housing to low- and middle-income households.
It seeks to address the housing deficit by facilitating the construction of new units and making them accessible through various financing options.
The programme also aims to stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and driving wealth creation.
Financing options include mortgages and rent-to-own schemes.
Units are categorised as social housing (for those earning below Sh20,000), affordable housing (for those earning between Sh20,000 and Sh149,000), and affordable middle-class housing (for those earning above Sh149,000).
To book a unit, one must register on the official Boma Yangu platform via an eCitizen account.
Available units range from studio apartments to one-, two-, and three-bedroom houses, priced between Sh640,000 and Sh2.9 million.
A notice on the Boma Yangu portal states: “Please note that the prices currently displayed on this platform are provisional and are being reviewed to align with the updated rates.”
As of August 14, 2025, there were 400 ongoing projects, over 30,000 active savers, and more than 300,000 registered applicants on the platform.
To activate an account, one must save a minimum of Sh200.
After activation, any amount can be saved as often as desired.
Once projects are completed, registered members are notified when allocations begin.
Those who miss out or do not wish to purchase a unit will be refunded in accordance with the housing fund regulations.
Ichung’wah dismissed the widespread belief that one must have connections to secure a unit.
“I want to tell Kenyans you do not need to know anybody… not even the President. All you need to do is to know the procedure of registration through Boma Yangu (and) contribute for your deposit,” he said.
“Fortunately that deposit has now been moved from 10 per cent to five per cent of the value of the house. If a house is Sh1 million you only need Sh50,000 now.”
He added that the system is foolproof, accountable, and that the allocation process is fair and transparent.
“If you do not meet the criteria, the regulation provides for an appeal mechanism and you do not need to apply for a unit within your locality. I have been encouraging Kenyans, these houses being built in Nairobi are for people of Kathiani, Kikuyu, Kisumu, Karachuonyo and Lodwar,” he said.
