Kenya Affordable Housing Program (2026): How to Apply, Unit Prices, Eligibility & Project Locations

The Kenya Affordable Housing Program (AHP) is a national initiative under the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). 

The program is designed to provide accessible, dignified, and cost-effective housing for low and middle-income earners. Implemented through the Boma Yangu platform. 

The goal of this initiative it to enables Kenyans to own quality housing units through structured payment plans, a mandatory housing levy, and government subsidies.

As of early 2026, the program has surpassed 1.1 million registered users, with over 262,913 units under development across 111 constituencies in all 47 counties, making it one of the largest public housing programmes on the continent.

Who Is Eligible?

For you to apply, you need to meet the following criteria:

• You must be a Kenyan citizen aged 18 years or above with a valid National ID
• Do not own another residential property in the county where you are applying as the program is currently targeting first time owners.
• Your household monthly income should not exceed KSh 150,000 (for the highest-priced units; lower-priced units have lower thresholds)
• You must not have previously benefited from the AHP, the program enforces a strict one Kenyan, one home policy.

You are allowed to apply for affordable houses if you are Kenyan living abroad, remember, it has not been restricted to only residents as long as you are Kenyan which can be by birth or through registration. Therefore, if you are a Kenyan in Diaspora, you are allowed to apply. 

How to Apply: The 5-Step Process

Step 1: Register on Boma Yangu

• Visit the official platform: www.bomayangu.go.ke
• You must have an eCitizen account to register, you are required to link it during the sign up process. 
• Alternatively, dial *832# for USSD-based registration
• Registration is free, but account activation requires a one-time payment of KSh 200

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

After you are done with the registration the next step is completing your profile. At this stage, you are required to fill in:

• Personal information such as your National ID for identity verification and KRA PIN to ensure tax compliance. 
• Employment status and income details
• Preferred housing unit type and location
• Your profile is verified against national government databases

Step 3: Save Toward Your Deposit

• Start making contributions via M-Pesa, Paybill, or other approved channels
• There is no minimum monthly amount and no cap thus saving can be done daily, weekly, or monthly
• You must accumulate savings equivalent to at least 5% of the value of your chosen unit to qualify for allocation (reduced from 10% in June 2025)
• For those unable to pay the deposit upfront, structured deposit assistance and flexible payment options are available

Step 4: Select a Unit & Receive an Offer Letter

• Browse available projects on the Boma Yangu portal, filter by county and unit type
• Add preferred units to your wishlist
• Once your savings hit the 5% threshold and units are available, you receive a formal Offer Letter confirming your reserved unit

Step 5: Sign Legal Agreements & Transfer of Ownership

• Complete the sale by signing the relevant legal agreements
• Keys and ownership documents are handed over to you as the new homeowner
• Payment options at this stage include: cash, mortgage, or tenant purchase scheme (monthly instalments)

The Affordable Housing Levy (What Every Working Kenyan Should Know)

The AHP is primarily funded through a mandatory Affordable Housing Levy, introduced under the Affordable Housing Act, 2024, signed into law on March 19, 2024.

Key details:

• KRA collects the levy monthly; remittance is due by the 9th working day of the following month
• A 3% monthly penalty applies on unpaid amounts
• Pay via iTax, eCitizen Paybill 222 222, or by dialling *222#
• Levy contributors can qualify for home loans of up to KSh 5 million at single-digit interest rates through KMRC-participating banks
• The 2025 Finance Act extended mortgage tax relief to Kenyans building through SACCOs or personal loans (not just completed home buyers)

The levy sits within Kenya's wider tax reform story. If you want the full picture of what the government is changing this year, here's our breakdown of the Finance Bill 2026.

Unit Prices Under the Affordable Housing Program

Unit prices vary significantly by location and apartment size, but remain well below market rates. Prices start as low as KSh 640,000 for social housing units in county towns.

Note: Costs vary based on county, contractor, and project specifications. Always confirm the exact price on the Boma Yangu portal for your chosen project.

Financing Your AHP Unit

You have three main options when you receive your offer:

1. Cash Purchase: Pay the full balance within 90 days of receiving your offer
2. Mortgage: Access loans through KMRC-participating banks at approximately 10% average interest rate (KMRC provides long-term funding to lenders at ~5%, keeping rates competitive)
3. Tenant Purchase Scheme: Continue paying monthly instalments directly to the National Housing Corporation (NHC) until full ownership is transferred

Tip: Get mortgage pre-approval before the allocation process begins as it will significantly speeds up completion once you receive your offer. If you're weighing this against other property options, our look at Kenya's real estate investment trends gives useful context on where AHP units sit in the broader market.

Amenities Provided in AHP Units

Affordable Housing under the AHP includes both in-unit and community-level amenities:

• Security: Gated communities, CCTV surveillance, security patrols
• Utilities: Full water and electricity connections with metered billing
• Green Spaces: Public parks, children's playgrounds, and landscaped areas
• Social Infrastructure: ECD centres and primary schools, health clinics, retail shops, community halls, and religious centres
• Parking: Allocated or shared parking slots for residents
• Sanitation: Centralised, modern waste disposal and drainage systems

Recently Completed & Handed-Over Projects (2025–2026)

All Project Locations Across Kenya

Nairobi County

Source: Boma Yangu

Nairobi highlights: Park Road Ngara (1,370 units); Pangani Redevelopment (1,562 units by Tecnofin Kenya); Shauri Moyo A & B (6,000+ units planned); Starehe (4,096 units under construction including affordable, market-rate, and social categories)

Coast Region

Rift Valley Region

Western & Nyanza Region

Central & Mt. Kenya Region

Eastern & Machakos Region

Northern & Arid Regions

Coming Soon: New projects are being launched in Marsabit, Turkana, and West Pokot counties to ensure all 47 counties are covered.

Strategic Contractors Behind the Projects

Over 56 contractors have been engaged by the State Department of Housing. Prominent ones include:

These firms are selected for their proven record in mass urban housing and compliance with quality standards.

Programme Progress & Honest Challenges (2026)

Milestones Achieved

• A million Kenyans registered on Boma Yangu as of February 2026 (up from 500,000 in Feb 2025)
• 262,913+ units under development across all 47 counties
• Over KSh 170 billion cumulatively mobilised through the Housing Levy
• Monthly levy inflows exceed KSh 6 billion
• Government on track to deliver approximately 200,000 housing units in the 2025 cycle

Challenges to Be Aware Of

• Low savings participation: Nearly 80% of registered Kenyans have never made a contribution. Of 816,780 registered users, 653,182 had zero savings as of May 2025. Only 46 members had contributed above KSh 1 million.
• Delivery gap: Between July 2022 and June 2025, only 2,075 units were completed which was just 0.8% of the annual 250,000-unit target.
• Financing shortfall: An annual gap of approximately KSh 326 billion exists against the KSh 400 billion needed to deliver 250,000 units yearly. The government is actively seeking co-investment from banks, SACCOs, pension schemes, and development partners.

These challenges are real but improving. The 1.1M registration milestone, recent handovers, and deposit reduction to 5% all signal forward momentum.

How to Track Project Progress

Visit www.bomayangu.go.ke or dial *832# to:

• View project listings by county
• Check unit availability and pricing
• Monitor your savings and allocation status
• Monitor construction progress in real-time
• Access FAQs, eligibility criteria, and downloadable documents

Conclusion

The Kenya Affordable Housing Program represents one of the most ambitious social housing efforts in Kenya's history. With units starting from as low as KSh 640,000, a deposit requirement now reduced to just 5%, and projects spanning all 47 counties, the pathway to homeownership has never been more accessible for ordinary Kenyans.

Whether you are a first-time homeowner, a low-income earner, a diaspora Kenyan, or a member of a SACCO, the AHP offers a structured, government-backed route to dignified living. Register on Boma Yangu today, start saving, it doen't really matter how much you save when it comes to investing in real estate, sooner or later you will secure your place in Kenya's housing program.

For the latest project listings and prices, always verify at www.bomayangu.go.ke or the Affordable Housing Board.