With $5 billion and counting, Kenya now has the largest housing project in Africa, Ruto says

During the Leader’s Summit at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), the president of Kenya, William Ruto, made a bold claim, declaring that Kenya now boasts the largest housing program in Africa.

• Kenyan President William Ruto declared that Kenya now has the largest housing program in Africa during the World Urban Forum Leaders' Summit in Baku.
• Ruto highlighted Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme as a model for sustainable urban development and revealed the country has developed 273,000 housing units in the past three years.
• Ruto emphasized that Kenya's housing initiative is locally funded with $5 billion and has created 640,000 jobs, aiming to reach one million soon.
• The 13th World Urban Forum in Baku marks the first Leaders' Summit, gathering heads of state and government to address urban and housing challenges globally.

Earlier reports, before Ruto arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the World Urban Forum is being held, showed that the Kenyan president was set to showcase its Affordable Housing Programme as a model for sustainable urban development.

Kenya was invited to the international event in appreciation of its advancements in affordable housing and urban redevelopment programs, according to a statement released on Friday by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.

As seen on Caliber, the Kenyan head of state described the country’s 1,100 informal settlements with about 7 million residents as unacceptable and unsustainable during the summit.

As a result, the country under his administration is embarking on a bold mission to create the largest housing project in Africa.

"Kenya will continue to advance the Affordable Housing Programme to ensure every citizen, regardless of background, has access to decent and dignified shelter," Ruto stated via X.

Furthermore, Ruto relayed that Kenya is presently executing a housing initiative, which encompasses the development of 273,000 apartment units:

"In the last 3 years, we have built 273,000 housing units. 8000 keys have been handed over, 55,000 keys will be handed over before the end of this year, and we have a pipeline of 700,000 units.

I can say with confidence today in Kenya, we have the largest housing program on the continent of Africa,” the Kenyan president said.

“Because of our housing fund, we have mobilized $5 billion, from local or domestic resources, we haven’t borrowed a single Shilling from the World Bank or any other global institutions… We have, as a result, employed 640,000 young people, architects, and all other professionals, and we are on our way to hiring a million people in the short term,” he added.

Leaders' Summit, World Urban Forum

The WUF13 Leaders' Summit in Baku is a major new component of the World Urban Forum's 13th session (WUF13), which will take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026. It is organized by UN-Habitat and the Azerbaijani government.

The Leaders' Summit stands out because it is the first of its kind in World Urban Forum history, bringing together heads of state, heads of government, ministers, and mayors to debate cities and housing as key global concerns.

Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan and National Coordinator of WUF13, stated at the WUF13 Leaders' Summit in Baku that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) became a platform for creating a common vision for the future of cities, 3Ctrend reported.

He stated, "The forum is an important platform for advancing global urban policy, strengthening partnerships, and implementing the new urban agenda and the sustainable development goals."

He claims that holding the event in Baku is a reflection of Azerbaijan's dedication to sustainable urban development, the rehabilitation and urbanization of cities and communities, and enhancing global collaboration via partnerships and communication.