Dozens of workers at the Shauri Moyo Affordable Housing Project in Nairobi are sounding the alarm over delayed wages and a shortage of construction materials, painting a grim picture behind one of President William Ruto’s flagship initiatives.
Despite the government hailing the program as a job-creating engine, workers say they are struggling to survive without the pay they were promised.
Daily hardships, mounting frustrations, and stalled construction have made life unbearable for ordinary Jua-Kali artisans, threatening the very success the project was meant to showcase.
Wage Delays and Material Shortages Hamper Progress
At the heart of the Shauri Moyo site, workers say they were promised weekly payments. Yet, many have gone unpaid for over two weeks, with painters reporting they have not received a single cent. “We depend on daily work to survive,” said Musungi Nanyakha, a site artisan. “When pay delays, we can’t buy food or pay rent. Life becomes impossible for the ordinary Jua-Kali artisan.”
George Gitu, another worker, described the growing frustration. “Since the start of the year, all we hear is ‘wait, the money hasn’t come.’ We’ve made windows that are already being fitted in houses, but we haven’t been paid.” Gitu added that some artisans have stopped reporting to work because they cannot afford transport to the site.
Workers also complain that construction is slowing due to shortages of essential materials. Supervisors acknowledge the issue but insist that supplies are being sourced. Daniel Macharia, Payment Supervisor, said, “There’s nothing wrong. We’ve been in touch with the developer, and materials are being sourced. The delay in payment is only for this week.”
However, site leaders paint a bleaker picture. Peter Mwema, a supervisor, revealed the personal toll of wage delays. “I have children in secondary school who have been sent home because I can’t pay fees,” he said. The combination of financial strain and stalled construction has sparked tensions among workers, some of whom fear the program may not deliver as promised.
Workers Struggle Despite Presidential Backing
The Shauri Moyo project is a central pillar of President William Ruto’s Affordable Housing Programme, a flagship initiative under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. The program is meant to create thousands of jobs while delivering affordable homes to low-income Kenyans. Yet, the ongoing wage delays expose a stark contrast between government promises and ground realities.
Labour unions have urged the State Department for Housing to ensure timely payments for casual labourers, warning that continued delays could derail the entire project. “This is not just about money. When workers are unpaid, construction halts and the dream of affordable housing becomes a nightmare,” a union representative said.
President Ruto recently defended controversial housing levy deductions, insisting that the collected funds are managed responsibly and used to fund the housing programme. But workers on the ground say assurances have done little to ease the pressure of day-to-day survival.
Rising Tensions Threaten Project Delivery
The frustrations at Shauri Moyo highlight systemic challenges in Kenya’s large-scale development projects. Shortages of materials, inconsistent communication, and delayed salaries not only affect workers’ livelihoods but also risk slowing down construction timelines.
Some site leaders warn that continued delays may cause skilled artisans to abandon the project. “If payment does not reach us soon, we’ll have no choice but to stop coming,” said one worker. Such disruptions could undermine public confidence in the government’s affordable housing promise, turning a celebrated initiative into a cautionary tale.
As of publication, workers say they are still waiting for confirmation that payments will be made as promised by January 30, 2026. Meanwhile, families of artisans face mounting difficulties, and construction remains under pressure.
The situation underscores the fragile balance between policy ambition and practical implementation, raising questions about whether Kenya’s flagship housing projects can truly meet their goals if basic obligations to workers are left unmet.
