By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, July 23 , 2026 - The government has dismissed claims that Kenyans are abandoning the Affordable Housing Programme after reports indicated billions of shillings had been withdrawn from the Boma Yangu savings scheme, insisting that most of the money classified as "refunds" was actually used to purchase completed housing units rather than being withdrawn by contributors.
The clarification follows media reports citing a special audit that showed refunds under the Affordable Housing Programme had risen sharply, raising questions about public confidence in one of President William Ruto's flagship projects.
Speaking during a press briefing, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said the figures had been misinterpreted and did not reflect a mass exit from the programme.
"Since the audit cut-off of May 2025, cumulative savings on the platform have more than doubled, from KSh2.47 billion to KSh5.47 billion; registered users have grown from 1.02 million to 1.26 million Kenyans; and at any given time about 30 per cent of registered users are actively saving toward units they wish to own," Hinga said.
According to Hinga, the controversy stems from how transactions are recorded within the Boma Yangu platform.
While reports highlighted an increase of about KSh1.77 billion under the refunds category, the PS explained that approximately KSh1.76 billion represented savings that had been applied as deposits toward completed affordable housing units, not cash paid back to contributors.
He said actual cash refunds only increased marginally, from KSh788.2 million to KSh803.3 million, representing an increase of just KSh15.1 million.
"The overwhelming share of the growth the article reports as Kenyans 'pulling out' is, in fact, Kenyans completing the purchase of homes. A scheme Kenyans were abandoning would not be adding a quarter of a million registered users, doubling its savings base, and converting Sh1.76 billion of savings into home purchases in fourteen months," Hinga said.
The debate emerged after the Auditor-General's review of the Boma Yangu platform showed that refunds had risen significantly over the years, prompting concerns that more Kenyans were opting out of the programme.
The audit covering July 2020 to May 2025 found that the scheme had received KSh2.47 billion in voluntary contributions, out of which Sh788 million had been refunded to prospective homeowners who exited the programme. Subsequent figures indicated refunds had risen further as more contributors either withdrew their savings or used them toward purchasing housing units.
Under the Affordable Housing Regulations, contributors who have not been allocated a house are legally entitled to withdraw their voluntary savings together with accrued returns, subject to applicable administrative deductions. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to automate withdrawals through the Boma Yangu platform to improve transparency.
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Despite the controversy, the State Department maintains that public participation in the programme continues to expand.
According to official data, registered users have increased from 1.02 million to 1.26 million, while cumulative voluntary savings have more than doubled to KSh5.47 billion since the last audit period. About 30% of registered members are actively saving toward home ownership at any given time.
The government also expects to complete 45,000 affordable housing units by the end of 2026, with another 15,000 units scheduled for completion during the first half of next year. Hinga noted that demand continues to exceed supply, citing projects such as Mukuru, where applications significantly outnumber available units.
The clarification is significant because the Affordable Housing Programme is financed through both the statutory Affordable Housing Levy and voluntary savings made through the Boma Yangu platform by prospective homeowners.
Classifying payments used to purchase completed homes as ordinary refunds could create the impression that contributors are abandoning the programme when, in reality, many are transitioning from saving to ownership.
However, the figures have also renewed calls for greater transparency in reporting Boma Yangu transactions so that withdrawals by contributors are clearly distinguished from savings converted into home purchases.
With billions of shillings collected under the Affordable Housing Programme and continued public scrutiny over the Housing Levy, analysts say clearer reporting will be essential to maintaining public confidence in one of Kenya's largest housing initiatives.