Eldoret, Kenya — Tension and uncertainty have gripped residents of former Kilimani estate in Eldoret after mass evictions began earlier this week to pave way for the government’s ambitious Kidiwa 2 Affordable Housing Project. The exercise, which has affected over 5,000 families across Kilimani, Tom Mboya, Kuria, W.C.C., and Kamanda estates, has left hundreds of people displaced, with many unsure of where to go next.
Bulldozers arrived at the estates just days before the eviction deadline of April 12, 2025. Makeshift shelters, old government houses, and rental units were brought down, forcing residents, some of whom had lived in the area for decades to hurriedly salvage what they could. For families with school-going children and elderly dependents, the eviction has brought immense hardship.
“This is the only home I’ve ever known,” said Mary Atieno, a mother of four whose family has lived in the area for more than 30 years. “We were told to leave, but there was no clear plan for relocation. Now we are sleeping in a church compound with no idea what happens next.”
Despite the distress, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has maintained that the project is a critical step towards addressing Kenya’s urban housing crisis. The Kidiwa 2 Project, part of President Ruto’s broader Affordable Housing Agenda, aims to deliver over 10,000 modern housing units in Eldoret within the next three years.
According to government officials, the new developments will not only offer decent and secure living spaces but also create thousands of jobs during construction and long-term employment opportunities through retail and service facilities built within the housing zones.
“The objective is to transform informal settlements into well-planned, safe, and sustainable neighborhoods,” said a spokesperson from the State Department for Housing. “Once complete, the units will be available at subsidized rates, with a rent-to-own model to make home ownership more accessible.”
While the long-term benefits are significant, critics argue that the process has been rushed and lacks proper planning for displaced families. Civil society organizations have called for better coordination, urging the government to provide temporary shelter and compensation to affected residents.
As construction of the Kidiwa 2 units begins, Eldoret finds itself at the center of a national conversation balancing the urgent need for affordable housing with the human cost of displacement.
