News and Analysis
April 11, 2025
Access to affordable housing is a major challenge for many Kenyans, especially those living in cities and large towns. With the cost of land and construction constantly rising, owning a decent home in urban areas has become out of reach for most low- and middle-income earners.
The Kenyan government launched the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) in 2017 as part of the Big Four Agenda. The program aims to construct hundreds of thousands of housing units across the country, especially in high-demand urban centers.
At the heart of this initiative is Boma Yangu—an online platform where Kenyans can register, save, and apply for allocation of these homes.
In this article, you’ll get a complete step-by-step guide to owning a home through this platform—from understanding how it works, how much you need to pay, to what it takes to get your keys.
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Boma Yangu is a portal created to support Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). It serves as a central hub where you can register, save money towards a home, and apply for housing units under government-backed projects. Once you sign up, you can view ongoing projects, track your savings, and express interest in homes that fit your budget and preferences.
The platform also gives you access to financing options like mortgages and the National Tenant Purchase Scheme. You can access Boma Yangu through USSD, mobile web, or the main web portal.
According to data from the Boma Yangu website, over 45,000 Kenyans have already become homeowners through the platform, with 10 completed housing projects and more underway. So far, more than 334,000 people have registered as housing applicants.
The primary housing type under Boma Yangu is apartments. These apartments range from studio units, often referred to as bedsitters or 1-room units, to one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom configurations.
Some projects such as the Pangani Affordable Housing Project offer three-bedroom duplex apartments and others like FairValley Heights in Athi River offer four-bedroom units.
Here are examples of two projects:
Pangani Affordable Housing Project: Located in Nairobi, this project offers 1-bedroom units (24 sqm), 2-bedroom units (45 sqm), 3-bedroom units (60 sqm), and 3-bedroom duplexes (90 sqm), with 1,562 units total, including commercial spaces.
Park Road Ngara Project: Also in Nairobi, this project includes Category 1 units with 2-bedroom (60 sqm) and 3-bedroom (80 sqm) options, and Category 2 with 1-bedroom (30 sqm), 2-bedroom (40 sqm), and 3-bedroom (60 sqm) units. It features amenities like parking, playgrounds, and solar water heaters, with all units sold out at prices ranging from Ksh1.5 million.
Pricing under Boma Yangu is notably location-dependent. For instance, a one-bedroom apartment in Lamu West Constituency, Lamu County., costs Ksh1 million, while in Nairobi’s Shauri Moyo B Affordable Housing Project, it is priced at Ksh1.65 million.
The type of house you qualify for under Boma Yangu largely depends on your monthly income and how much rent or loan repayment you can afford.
Since the program targets low- and middle-income earners, your earnings help determine which unit—studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, or 3-bedroom—you can realistically pay for through rent-to-own plans or mortgage options.
In a rent-to-own plan or Tenant Purchase Scheme, the monthly payments will be determined after taking into account the amount of deposit paid, the desired payment period, and the cost of the house. The typical payment period will be up to 30 years.
For example, if you buy a three-bedroom apartment in the Lurambi Affordable Housing Project in Kakamega County, you will pay about Ksh21,680 per month. However, a two-bedroom in Kings Orchid Thika costs Ksh3,474,500 and has a monthly repayment starting from Ksh24,300.
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Here’s how you can get started with Boma Yangu and move closer to owning your affordable home:
To begin, you need an active eCitizen account. You can then register on the Boma Yangu portal at www.bomayangu.go.ke which will redirect you to eCitizen, or by dialing *USSD code 832# on your mobile phone.
To start the process, you will need to fill in your personal details and answer a few pre-qualification questions. These help the system recommend suitable housing options. You'll be asked about:
Make a minimum deposit of Ksh200 to activate your account. You can save via MPESA, credit/debit cards, and cash deposits at authorised banks.
You can top up as often as you like.
Browse available housing projects, add preferred units to your wishlist, and check how much you need to save. To qualify for allocation, you must save at least 10% of the unit’s cost.
When the allocation phase opens and you have saved the required deposit, you will be considered. According to Boma Yangu, the allocation is done on a first-come, first-served basis. If not allocated, you’ll be placed on a waiting list and prioritized in future allocations.
Before allocation, your details and ability to pay will be verified by a relevant government agency.
Read Also: You Have Ksh10 Million: Buy an Apartment in Westlands or Build a Maisonette in Ruiru
The Boma Yangu initiative offers flexible payment options. Here’s a breakdown of the available payment plans:
If you’re able to pay the full amount upfront, you can do so directly through the Boma Yangu portal. This option allows you to purchase a house without the need for long-term financing or monthly installments.
However, it’s important to note that paying in full does not give you priority during house allocation. Homes are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis—regardless of how much deposit you’ve saved or whether you’ve paid in full.
Boma Yangu partners with financial institutions to provide accessible mortgage financing.
Once you’ve saved the required 10% deposit of your preferred unit, you can apply for a mortgage through a partner bank or SACCO. These institutions offer long-term repayment plans of up to 25 years and interest rates below 10%.
The Tenant Purchase Scheme allows you to pay for your house over time through monthly installments made directly to the housing fund. You’ll be required to raise an initial deposit—usually around 10% of the unit cost—then make consistent payments over a period of up to 25 years. This is ideal for those who may not qualify for a bank mortgage but can commit to long-term savings.
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