Passaris explains why Ruto’s govt cannot give Kenyans affordable houses for free

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has defended the Kenyan government's affordable housing programme, asserting that beneficiaries are expected to purchase the homes instead of receiving them for free. During a segment on K24 TV's Politalks with Brian Amwai, Passaris stated that free housing could not be sustained, emphasizing that the initiative aimed to help Kenyans acquire homes through affordable payment plans.

"So you book a house, you pay your deposit, you do your rent-to-own," she explained. Passaris also highlighted efforts to attract private investors into the sector, noting that the Housing Levy alone would not suffice to meet the nation's demand for affordable homes. She pointed out that the programme aimed to boost housing supply and exert pressure on private developers to reduce prices, particularly in Nairobi, where property costs have surged over the years.

Passaris shared her firsthand experience in the property market, noting that a four-bedroom apartment that once cost KSh6 million now sells for between Ksh30 million and Ksh40 million. She predicted that prices would continue to drop as the government constructs affordable, market-rate, and social housing units, which would increase competition and make homeownership more accessible to ordinary Kenyans.

Passaris also discussed the insurance arrangements within the housing programme, citing the case of a Mukuru woman who died four months after moving into an affordable housing unit. The woman's 22-year-old son was granted the title deed to the house after the Affordable Housing Board intervened and confirmed that insurance had covered the remaining payment.

Passaris emphasized that beneficiaries not only acquired insured homes but also had access to furniture through gradual payment arrangements, thereby creating additional employment opportunities in furniture production and supply.