President William Ruto has taken a swipe at critics of his government’s affordable housing programme, dismissing their doubts as unfounded.

Speaking during his State of the Nation Address at Parliament on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Ruto said that the critics had wished that the affordable housing project would stall, but upon realising that it was on course, the conversation has shifted from doubting to everyone now asking how they can acquire a unit.

“Three years ago, when we said we would deliver affordable housing, the cynics dismissed it as a fantasy. When they realised we were serious, they called it impossible. And when we broke ground across the country, they suggested that the projects would stall,” Ruto said.

The President noted that those criticisms have since given way to a very different reality: overwhelming demand for the housing units.

“Today, those doubts have given way to a very different question from Kenyans everywhere: How do I get one of those units?” he added.

Ruto highlighted the progress of the programme, citing multiple ongoing projects nationwide and emphasising the government’s commitment to making decent, affordable housing accessible to all citizens.

“Across the country, we are delivering the most extensive housing project in Kenya’s history: 230,000 homes,” Ruto stated.

The Affordable Housing Programme was launched in 2022 as part of the Big Four Agenda, aimed at providing decent and affordable homes to low- and middle-income Kenyans.

The initiative involves constructing thousands of housing units across the country, including in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and other counties.

The programme is implemented through a mix of public-private partnerships, government funding, and innovative financing mechanisms, ensuring that citizens can access quality homes at manageable costs.

Since its inception, the programme has seen several successful milestones, with units already completed and occupied in pilot estates.

The government has emphasised the creation of sustainable residential communities, including access to social amenities such as schools, healthcare centres, and public transport.