Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme has earned global recognition for transforming the country’s urban landscape and expanding access to decent, affordable homes.
The World Broadband Association (WBBA) honored Kenya’s State Department for Housing and Urban Development with the Certified Bronze Gigacity Award 2025 during a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga received the award on behalf of the government.
The WBBA also recognized Hinga for spearheading the smart cities initiative, which has accelerated the growth of modern, technology-driven urban centers in Kenya.
Speaking at the event, WBBA Director General Martin Creaner praised Kenya’s efforts to modernize its building standards. He lauded the department for revising the Building Code to support high-speed digital connectivity, saying the reforms would “increase high-speed gigabit connectivity” and enhance residents’ quality of life through better fiber networks and smart urban services.
According to the association, gigacities play a key role in improving local productivity by enabling access to digital services and supporting smart technologies. This recognition positions Kenya among leading nations embracing sustainable and tech-driven urbanization.
Currently, more than 214,000 housing units are at various levels of construction under the AHP in all 47 counties. According to Hinga, the housing delivery program has an effect on general economic engagements through job creation and benefiting local industries.
He explained that the government has allocated billions of shillings to Jua Kali artisans to supply materials such as doors and windows for AHP projects, while also stimulating demand in the manufacturing sector for steel, cement, and other construction materials.
“Today in Kenya, every major town’s flagship project is under the affordable housing program. The programme is now a reality and has stimulated economic activities beyond the traditional brick and mortar workforce to focus on technological and new innovations,” Hinga said.
He noted that gigacity infrastructure will be deployed in several of the upcoming AHP developments with the objective of incorporating smart urban planning and digital inclusion into the housing agenda.
The initiative, according to PS Hinga, has so far created more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs, and is projected to generate up to one million in its lifecycle.
“Kenya has set the benchmark for Africa in integrating smart urban transformation. Projects such as the Boma Yangu Mukuru Housing Estate and Konza Technopolis, where we are developing over 2,000 housing units, are now being showcased by UN-Habitat and other partners as models of sustainable city-building,” he added.
Kenya’s gigacity and smart city projects form part of a broader urban development strategy focused on sustainability, climate resilience, and equity, anchoring the nation’s transition into a truly connected and inclusive digital economy.
