Affordable Housing Programme Kenya: How to Apply, Eligibility, and Locations (2026 Update)

Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) is the government’s flagship plan to put more Kenyans in decent homes — through subsidised urban units, tenant-purchase schemes, and (since 2025) rural housing loans. Applications run through the official Boma Yangu portal.

Last updated: August 2026. Portal listings, unit prices, and project timelines change frequently — always confirm live details on bomayangu.go.ke before you save or apply.

The programme sits under Kenya’s national housing policy and is anchored in the Affordable Housing Act, 2024. It aims to deliver large-scale, decent housing for low- and middle-income Kenyans using a mix of government land, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and private developers registered as strategic partners.

The Affordable Housing Board oversees allocation, financing, and fund management. The public-facing gateway is Boma Yangu (“My Home”) — where you register, save toward a deposit, browse projects nationwide, and apply when units are released for allocation.

The Affordable Housing Fund pools levy contributions, voluntary savers’ deposits, government appropriations, and off-take financing from banks and SACCOs. The Act imposes a 1.5% Affordable Housing Levy on employees’ gross salary (with a matching employer contribution) and on the gross income of non-employees, subject to ongoing legal and policy developments.

Voluntary savings through Boma Yangu also count toward your deposit. You can contribute via M-Pesa (all networks), card, or cash deposit at authorised custodial banks — KCB, NCBA, and Co-operative Bank — as listed on the portal.

Under the Affordable Housing Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice 114), you qualify if you:

• Are a Kenyan citizen with a valid national ID
• Are at least 18 years old
• Have not been previously allocated an affordable housing unit
• Have not previously received a rural affordable housing loan from the Fund

Boma Yangu also verifies applicants through linked government records. In practice you should have a valid KRA PIN, complete profile, and proof of income when allocation opens. The programme operates on a “one Kenyan, one home” principle — you can only benefit once.

Diaspora Kenyans can register and save through the diaspora applicant track. Organised groups (employers, SACCOs, chamas) can bulk off-take units for members.

Units are grouped into three allocation pools based on monthly household income (Regulation 21):

If you earn below KES 20,000 you may also apply for deposit assistance — a Fund loan added to your balance and repaid through the tenant-purchase scheme (Regulation 8).

1. Create an eCitizen account if you do not already have one — Boma Yangu uses eCitizen for login.
2. Register at bomayangu.go.ke or dial *832# on your mobile phone. Choose your applicant type (local home applicant, diaspora, or organised group).
3. Complete your profile — personal details, housing preferences, and linked verification documents.
4. Activate your wallet by saving a minimum of KES 200.
5. Browse projects — add locations to your wishlist and select a preferred unit type. The portal shows the deposit required for each unit.
6. Save toward your deposit — regulations cap the deposit at up to 5% of the purchase price; Boma Yangu displays the exact amount per unit.
7. Apply when allocation opens for a live project — submit supporting documents (ID, KRA PIN, proof of income, bank statements where requested).
8. Await allocation — the Board verifies applications within 90 days and runs a transparent electronic allocation. Unsuccessful applicants join a waiting list for the next release.
9. Sign financing — balance typically paid through tenant-purchase monthly instalments or an affordable mortgage via KMRC-linked lenders.

The legal maximum deposit is 5% of the unit price (Regulation 7). On a KES 2,000,000 two-bedroom unit that is KES 100,000. Boma Yangu tracks your savings wallet and notifies you when you reach the threshold for your selected project.

Deposit assistance is available for qualifying low-income applicants who cannot raise the full amount upfront — the assisted portion is added to your outstanding balance.

Not every Kenyan wants an apartment in Nairobi. From July 2025, the Regulations also allow a rural housing loan of up to KES 4 million for citizens who already own rural land and want to build there (Regulation 11).

You must have voluntary savings with the Fund, meet the same eligibility criteria, and submit:

• County development permission (building plan approval)
• Copy of title deed and official land search
• Land valuation report by a registered valuer
• Bill of quantities by a registered quantity surveyor
• Declaration that the loan will fund rural housing only

This path pairs with our guides on county building permits and affordable self-build house plans if you are constructing on land you already own.

Projects span all 47 counties. Nairobi concentrates many flagship estates — Ngara (Park Road), Pangani, Starehe, Kibera Soweto East, and Mariguini — but active or completed schemes also run in Machakos (Mavoko, Athi River), Kiambu (Ruiru), Mombasa (Buxton, Nyali), Nakuru (Bondeni), Kitui, Kakamega (Lurambi), Meru, Voi, Iten, Lamu (Mokowe), and dozens more.

As of 2026, Boma Yangu lists 128+ projects on the portal with over 1.2 million registered applicants. Availability changes daily — sold-out projects remain visible for reference but new clusters open regularly.

The table below highlights the largest and most prominent schemes. Unit counts and prices are indicative — confirm live stock on Boma Yangu before saving toward a specific project.

Want to read more about these projects? We are publishing a deep-dive on Kenya’s largest affordable housing developments — unit types, developers, timelines, and what buyers should know. Read the full guide here: Biggest Affordable Housing Projects in Kenya.

1. Sign the tenant-purchase or financing agreement with the Affordable Housing Board or approved lender.
2. Pay the deposit (if not already saved in full) and begin monthly instalments.
3. Take possession when the unit is completed and handed over.
4. Finish payments over the agreed term at your income-band interest rate.
5. Transfer restrictions apply — you need Board consent to sell, and the buyer must also be an eligible Kenyan who has not previously benefited (Regulation 18).

Is registration free? Yes — registering on Boma Yangu costs nothing. You only start saving when you choose to activate your wallet.

Can I apply if I already own a home? You must not have been previously allocated an affordable housing unit. If you own other property, confirm with the Board how that affects your application for your chosen county and unit type.

How long does allocation take? The Board has up to 90 days to verify an application (Regulation 4). Allocation only runs when a project is complete or has releasable units — being on the waiting list early helps.

Can I change my preferred unit? Yes — Regulation 9 allows a change of allocated unit before you take ownership, subject to availability and Board approval.

Disclaimer: This article summarises publicly available information about Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme as of August 2026. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Levy implementation, project prices, unit availability, and allocation rules can change through legislation, court decisions, or Board policy. Always verify current requirements on the official Boma Yangu portal and with qualified professionals before committing savings or signing agreements.