If you have been saving for Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme but want your money back, you are not alone. Many Kenyans either choose to opt out of the scheme or do not get allocated a housing unit, and they want their savings refunded. The good news is that the government allows voluntary contributors to withdraw their savings through the official Boma Yangu Portal. This guide walks you through the exact steps to request your affordable housing savings refund, what you need, and what you should know about mandatory contributions before you apply. Withdrawing your affordable housing savings on the Boma Yangu Portal is simple and transparent. Log in, submit your request, and wait for your refund to arrive in your account. [Photo: Courtesy] How To Withdraw Your Affordable Housing Savings on Boma Yangu The Boma Yangu Portal is the official online platform that manages Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme. Contributors who save voluntarily through the programme can request a refund of their savings at any time. The savings always reflect on the Boma Yangu wallet, giving you full visibility of your balance before you make any decisions.
The most common reason people request a refund is when they apply for a housing unit but do not get allocated one in the current project cycle. When that happens, you can either wait for the next available project or request a full refund of your accumulated savings.
According to the State Department of Housing, anyone who opts out of the programme receives a full refund of their savings, including the Kshs 200 registration fee. Note: The government is currently developing a more seamless withdrawal platform in partnership with a telecommunications company to make the refund process even simpler. Step-by-Step Process To Request Your Refund Follow these steps to withdraw your affordable housing savings through the Boma Yangu Portal: Step Action 1 Log in to the Boma Yangu Portal using your registered ID number and password 2 Navigate to the savings or account section on your dashboard 3 Select the refund or withdrawal option 4 Fill out the declaration form and provide your reason for requesting a refund in writing 5 Enter your correct mobile phone number and bank account details 6 Submit your request online and confirm your details 7 Wait for processing — payment goes to your registered bank or mobile money account Once you submit your withdrawal request, the government reviews your application, verifies your account, and confirms your savings balance before releasing the funds.
The portal also keeps a full record of all your refund requests, showing: The date you submitted the refund request The date it was approved The date it was settled The amount refunded Additionally, the Boma Yangu wallet has a savings reminder tab that automatically alerts you about your savings frequency and current savings status — a useful feature to monitor your contributions before you decide to withdraw. Can You Withdraw Mandatory Affordable Housing Contributions? This is where many Kenyans get confused. Mandatory contributions are different from voluntary savings — and you cannot withdraw them on demand. Under the Affordable Housing Act 2024, employees contribute 1.5% of their gross salary to the Affordable Housing Fund, with employers matching that amount. These deductions go into a national pool that funds the construction of affordable housing projects across the country. The government does not treat these as individual savings accounts.
However, there are limited circumstances where the government may consider refunding mandatory contributions: Retirement Permanent disability Death (processed through next of kin) Failure to receive a housing allocation within a specified period These conditions follow government regulations and timelines, which makes mandatory contributions far less flexible than voluntary savings. Key Differences Between Voluntary and Mandatory Contributions Feature Voluntary Savings Mandatory Contributions Can you withdraw anytime? Yes No Refund includes registration fee? Yes (Kshs 200) Not applicable Where it goes Your Boma Yangu wallet National Affordable Housing Fund Refund conditions At will Retirement, disability, death, or non-allocation Processed through Boma Yangu Portal Government regulations If you saved voluntarily through the Boma Yangu Portal and want your money back, the process is online, transparent, and straightforward. Log in, select the withdrawal option, fill in your details, and submit. Your refund will land in your bank or mobile money account once the government processes and approves your request.