Ruto: Kenya has proved slum dwellers can live in skyscrapers

President William Ruto speaking during the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan on May 18, 2026 / SCREENGRAB

President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s affordable housing programme, saying the country has demonstrated that people living in informal settlements can successfully transition to high-rise modern housing without increasing their cost of living.

Speaking during the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan, President Ruto said Kenya had started replacing slums in Nairobi with organised housing developments under the government’s Affordable Housing Programme.

“In the city of Nairobi, we have started to remove slums, to replace them with decent housing,” Ruto said.

The President made the remarks while responding to concerns raised during the forum on whether residents from informal settlements could adapt to living in skyscrapers.

"I am giving the Kenyan perspective because I had my sister Sarah from my neighbor country in Uganda. She made a very fundamental statement. She was just wondering how it is possible for a person in a slum to be able to live in a skyscraper on the 11th floor. Let me tell Sarah, it is possible," he said.

According to Ruto, residents who previously paid about 40 dollars in rent within slums are now paying the same amount to live in social housing apartments located on upper floors of high-rise buildings.

“The cost of a social house on the 11th floor is the same as the cost of a slum dwelling house. They used to pay 40 dollars, they now pay 40 dollars on the 11th floor,” he said.

The President said the affordable housing initiative was also helping Kenya reduce land fragmentation by encouraging organised urban settlements, leaving more land available for agriculture.

Ruto further linked Africa’s housing challenge to the continent’s rapid population growth, noting that by 2050, Africa is projected to host 25 per cent of the world’s population, with the majority living in urban centres.

He used the forum to push for reforms to the international financial system, arguing that African countries continue to face high borrowing costs despite urgent development needs.

“African countries and emerging economies pay two, three, four times more to access development financing because of elements of risk. If there is a place that housing is important and urgent, it is in our continent,” he said.

Ruto called for reforms to global financial institutions and the United Nations Security Council to ensure Africa has greater representation in global decision-making.

On the sidelines of the forum, the President also met Anacláudia Rossbach of UN-Habitat and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to sustainable urban development and affordable housing.