The government has intensified its Affordable Housing Programme with a strong focus on improving the living standards of Kenya’s disciplined forces, commissioning a major housing development at the Roysambu Military Camp in Nairobi County.
President William Ruto on Thursday commissioned the Roysambu Military Camp Housing Project – Phase One, a 500-unit development designed to provide modern accommodation for military officers and their families. At the same time, he laid the foundation stone for Phase Two of the project, signalling an expanded commitment to upgrading housing within military installations across the country.
Why the military housing project matters
For decades, housing conditions within some military barracks have drawn criticism due to congestion and ageing infrastructure. The new initiative seeks to reverse what President Ruto described as a “long-standing culture that normalised poor living conditions for those who protect our nation.”
“We have deliberately included our officers in the disciplined forces in our housing agenda to reverse the long-standing culture that normalised poor living conditions for those who protect our nation,” the President said.
The Roysambu project forms part of a broader strategy to improve welfare standards for servicemen and women while embedding them within the national affordable housing framework.
Phase One: 3,069 units across five military installations
According to the President, the military housing rollout will begin with 3,069 units in Phase One, spread across five installations:
- Roysambu (Nairobi)
- Nanyuki
- Gilgil
- Lanet
- Mariakani
The government projects that the units will be completed by June this year, significantly easing accommodation pressure within military camps.
At Roysambu alone, the 500 units commissioned in Phase One are expected to provide modern, dignified housing with improved amenities compared to older barracks-style residences.
Phase Two: 10,000 units nationwide
Beyond the initial rollout, the government plans to scale up construction in Phase Two, targeting 10,000 additional housing units in military installations across the country.
“In phase two, we will build 10,000 units in military installations across the country, significantly improving the welfare of our servicemen and women. After all, dignity is a right, not a privilege,” President Ruto stated.
The expansion signals a shift toward institutional housing reform, ensuring that military personnel are not left behind in national development programmes.
Public-private partnerships driving delivery
The project is being delivered under the broader Affordable Housing Programme, which leverages public-private partnerships (PPPs) to mobilise capital, accelerate construction, and reduce the burden on public finances.
“We are leveraging public-private partnerships to scale up the Affordable Housing Programme to deliver more homes and expand access to decent and affordable homes,” the President said.
The PPP model has become central to the government’s housing strategy, enabling simultaneous development in civilian urban centres and state institutions such as military camps.
A broader welfare agenda
The inclusion of disciplined forces in the Affordable Housing Programme underscores the administration’s broader welfare agenda — aligning infrastructure development with social protection and institutional reform.
By prioritising improved housing for soldiers and their families, the government aims to enhance morale, stability, and operational readiness within the Kenya Defence Forces.
As construction advances toward the June completion deadline for Phase One sites, the Roysambu Military Camp project stands as one of the most visible symbols of the administration’s commitment to combining national security, dignity, and development under the housing agenda.
