President William Samoei Ruto has intensified his development push at the Coast after unveiling a KSh31 billion affordable housing programme in Mombasa County, a move that has sparked both praise and criticism across the country.
The President announced that the government will construct 10,000 affordable housing units in Mombasa as part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s broader urban transformation agenda. During a tour of Mvita Constituency, Ruto also laid the foundation stone for the Makupa Modern Market and Affordable Housing Project valued at KSh600 million.
Speaking during the launch, the Head of State said the projects are aimed at improving living standards, expanding economic opportunities, and creating jobs for local residents.
“Across the country, we are implementing transformative projects that uplift communities, expand opportunity, and secure a better future for all,” President Ruto said.
The affordable housing programme has become one of the administration’s flagship projects, with the government presenting it as a long-term solution to urban housing shortages and unemployment through large-scale construction.
However, the announcement immediately triggered heated political debate, with Kenyans sharply divided over the impact and timing of the initiative.
Supporters of the President praised the move as evidence that the government is focused on tangible development rather than endless political battles. Many argued that the housing programme is already creating employment opportunities for youth, contractors, suppliers, and informal workers.
“This is the kind of politics Kenyans want — projects, jobs and development,” some supporters posted online following the launch.
Traders and residents in Mombasa also welcomed plans for the Makupa Modern Market, saying modern business spaces could improve working conditions and boost economic activity in the area.
But critics accused the government of using development projects to gain political mileage while many Kenyans continue to struggle with the high cost of living, increased taxes, and economic hardship.
Opposition voices questioned whether the affordable housing programme truly benefits ordinary wananchi, with some arguing that many low-income earners cannot realistically afford the houses being constructed.
“The houses are affordable only in government speeches,” critics wrote online as debate around the project intensified.
Others renewed criticism of the controversial housing levy, arguing that workers are being forced to fund projects whose direct benefits remain uncertain to many contributors.
Political analysts say the Coast region remains strategically important in national politics, and the heavy investment in housing and infrastructure could also be part of a wider effort by the Kenya Kwanza administration to strengthen its support base in a region historically associated with opposition politics.
Despite the criticism, government allies maintain that the affordable housing programme will transform urban centres, create thousands of jobs, and become one of President Ruto’s defining legacies if fully implemented.
