– – PRESIDENT RUTO NAMED HOUSING GLOBAL CHAMPION —
President William Ruto has been honoured as the Global Champion of Adequate Housing for All, a recognition of Kenya’s outstanding leadership in tackling the global housing crisis. The award was presented during the High-Level Roundtable of the Global Champions on Adequate and Affordable Housing, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting brought together leaders from 25 countries, the United Nations, development partners, and financial institutions to adopt a historic Call for Action on Adequate and Affordable Housing.
In his address, President Ruto emphasized that the global housing crisis is too immense for any single country to resolve, calling for the creation of a Coalition of Global Housing Champions. He underscored the importance of multilateralism and urged nations to mobilise resources and political will to ensure housing is placed at the centre of global development. He further challenged the UN to become more impact-driven and responsive to global realities, noting that UN-Habitat remains crucial in linking global aspirations with local solutions.
The President also called on governments to integrate housing into their national development strategies, framing it as a pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate resilience, and social equity. He highlighted the urgent need for predictable and scaled-up financing through stronger partnerships with UN-Habitat, private sector collaboration, and innovative models that can match the scale of the challenge. Without adequate financing, he warned, decent housing will remain out of reach for millions worldwide.
President Ruto also showcased Kenya’s own leadership in addressing housing needs through the Affordable Housing Programme. He noted that Kenya aims to deliver 200,000 affordable housing units annually, not only to provide shelter but also to spur job creation, urban renewal, and social equity. Already, nearly 170,000 units are under construction, creating over 320,000 jobs, a figure expected to double as the programme scales up to 650,000 jobs in the coming months.
To achieve this ambition, Kenya has introduced bold reforms to remove barriers to affordable housing. Public land has been made available to cut costs, while tax incentives have been rolled out to attract private sector investment. The government has also enacted the Affordable Housing Act 2024 and established a Housing Levy to fund settlement upgrades. Additionally, the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company has been strengthened to expand access to home loans, particularly for low- and middle-income families.
President Ruto stressed that the true measure of success will not be in pledges, but in the dignity restored to communities through affordable homes. “Housing must not be the privilege of a few. It must become the reality of all,” he said. His remarks were echoed by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, who praised Kenya’s financing model, and President Duma Boko of Botswana, who expressed optimism that African-led strategies would significantly reduce the continent’s housing deficit.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach applauded Kenya’s bold measures, particularly the Housing Levy, as a sustainable financing mechanism. She noted that nations placing housing at the centre of their development agendas are setting examples for the world. With Kenya leading from the front, President Ruto’s recognition as Global Champion underscores his government’s determination to make housing not just an aspiration, but a fundamental right and reality for millions across the globe.
