President William Ruto Highlights Kenya’s Affordable Housing Drive at the World Urban Forum
During the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Kenyan President William Ruto used the platform to present his administration’s affordable housing initiative as a model for sustainable urban development in Africa. Speaking at the inaugural Leaders’ Summit, Ruto emphasized that adequate and dignified housing is a fundamental right for every Kenyan, regardless of background.
Kenya’s Affordable Housing Ambition
Scale and Progress
Kenya’s housing programme targets the country’s extensive informal settlements, which currently house about seven million people across roughly 1,100 settlements. Ruto described these conditions as “unacceptable and unsustainable” and outlined concrete steps to address them.
- Over the past three years, the government has completed 273,000 housing units.
- To date, 8,000 keys have been handed over to beneficiaries.
- An additional 55,000 keys are slated for distribution in the current year.
- A pipeline of approximately 700,000 units is under preparation for future rollout.
These figures position Kenya’s effort as the largest housing programme on the African continent, according to the President’s remarks at the forum.
Funding, Employment and Domestic Ownership
Financing for the initiative has been sourced primarily from domestic channels. Ruto noted that the housing fund has mobilized US$5 billion from local resources, with no borrowing from the World Bank or other international financial institutions.
The programme’s labour impact is also significant:
- Approximately 640,000 young people, including architects, engineers and construction workers, have been employed so far.
- The administration aims to expand this to one million jobs in the near term.
By leveraging domestic savings and creating employment, the initiative aligns with broader goals of inclusive economic growth and urban resilience.
World Urban Forum 13 and the inaugural Leaders’ Summit
Purpose of the Leaders’ Summit
The Leaders’ Summit, a new addition to WUF13, brought together heads of state, government officials, ministers and mayors to discuss cities and housing as pressing global challenges. Organized by UN‑Habitat and the Azerbaijani government, the summit aimed to foster a shared vision for sustainable urban futures and to strengthen implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Azerbaijan’s Role and Commitment
Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and National Coordinator of WUF13, highlighted that hosting the forum in Baku underscores the country’s dedication to sustainable urban development, urban rehabilitation and enhanced international cooperation through partnerships and dialogue.
Implications and Outlook
President Ruto’s presentation at WUF13 signals Kenya’s intention to export lessons from its housing programme to other nations confronting rapid urbanization. The emphasis on domestically financed, employment‑rich construction offers a potential blueprint for balancing housing demand with job creation.
Moving forward, monitoring mechanisms will be essential to ensure that the projected 700,000‑unit pipeline translates into completed homes that meet quality and affordability standards. Continued engagement with international forums such as the World Urban Forum will allow Kenya to benchmark progress, attract technical expertise, and refine policies that promote inclusive, resilient cities.
