For three years, the promise of "Boma Yangu" has been the flagship narrative of the administration—a vision of dignity and ownership for the common mwananchi. But new government disclosures have shattered the glossy exterior of the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), revealing a stark reality: despite an injection of over KES 81.4 billion, the keys to new homes remain elusive for the vast majority of Kenyans.

In a candid admission buried within budget proposal presentations for the 2027/28 financial year, the State Department for Housing and Urban Development acknowledged that targets for both unit delivery and voter registration have been spectacularly missed. The data, which reviews performance up to June 2025, paints a picture of a project struggling to convert billions in funding into bricks and mortar.

The Numbers Game: PR vs. Reality

The most glaring discrepancy lies in the uptake figures. For months, officials have touted the program's popularity, with recent statements claiming over 1 million Kenyans had registered on the Boma Yangu platform. However, the official audit tells a different story.

According to the department's own disclosures, only 292,326 Kenyans had officially enrolled by June 2025. This represents a meager 0.5% of the population, falling sharply short of the government's internal target of 565,800.

"Target not achieved. Fewer people than anticipated registered on Boma Yangu," the department noted bluntly in its report. This admission raises serious questions about the integrity of the data previously fed to the public, where the platform currently displays nearly 900,000 users.

Where Are the Houses?

For the Kenyan worker seeing the Housing Levy deducted from their payslip every month, the most painful statistic is the delivery rate. The administration's initial ambition was to deliver 200,000 units annually. The reality? Between July 2022 and June 2025, contractors handed over just 2,075 units.

To put this in perspective, that is roughly 1% of the annual target delivered over three years. The completed units are concentrated in a few specific pockets:

• Mukuru: 1,080 units
• Bondeni: 605 units
• Institutional/Prison Projects: Various smaller allocations

Officials have been quick to cite "legal hurdles" as the primary bottleneck, likely referencing the litany of court cases that have dogged the Housing Levy and land acquisition processes. However, with KES 81.4 billion already spent, the cost-efficiency of the programme is now under the microscope.

The Savings Paradox

Despite the slow rollout, Kenyans have contributed significantly. The report indicates that aspiring homeowners have saved KES 3.84 billion through the scheme. While this demonstrates a hunger for homeownership, the gap between these savings and the physical delivery of houses risks eroding public trust further.

As the government looks toward the 2027/28 financial cycle, the pressure is no longer just about funding—it is about execution. With the "legal hurdles" largely navigated, the excuse of procedural delays is wearing thin. For the millions of Kenyans waiting for their "Boma," the question remains: If the money is there, why aren't the houses?