Kenyan President William Ruto has announced the implementation of Africa's largest housing project during his speech at the Leaders Summit of the World Urban Forum (WUF) held in Baku. The ambitious initiative aims to address the critical housing shortage in Kenya, where approximately 7 million people currently reside in over 1,100 informal settlements.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, President Ruto emphasized that the current living conditions for many Kenyans are unsustainable. "We understand the scale of the housing problem and the challenges people face. One of the biggest issues is the proliferation of slums," the President stated. He noted that the government has decided to direct state funds into housing projects without taxation and has established a special financial mechanism, including a dedicated fund and levy system, to standardize construction and reduce costs. Ruto added that 273,000 units are currently under construction, with a long-term goal of 700,000 units, noting that 8,000 keys have already been delivered to new homeowners.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations, is the premier global conference on sustainable urban development. By hosting this prestigious event in Baku, Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its position as a key international platform for addressing global challenges. The Kenyan housing initiative presented in the capital is regarded as a landmark model for developing nations seeking to transition populations from informal settlements to regulated, high-quality urban environments, which is expected to stimulate significant economic growth through the construction sector and professional job creation.
