Khendo FM has successfully concluded a month-long media partnership with the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, executed through Apex Novelli Limited, to promote the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) across the Western and North Rift regions.
The campaign, which ran from August 14 to September 14, 2025, was part of the government’s effort to deepen public awareness and citizen participation in Kenya’s flagship Affordable Housing Project — a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
🎙️ Grounded Approach
Through the partnership, Khendo FM leveraged its wide reach and vernacular appeal to engage millions of listeners in Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, and Nandi counties. The campaign featured a mix of live talk shows, field activations, news features, and interactive listener forums.
The programs — aired in both Swahili and Luhya language — focused on enlightening the public about project locations, eligibility criteria, payment structures, and the socio-economic benefits of homeownership under the Affordable Housing Scheme.
The collaboration was designed to ensure that “information about affordable housing opportunities reaches ordinary Kenyans in the most relatable and trusted manner possible.”
“We wanted citizens to hear directly, in their own language and on platforms they trust, that the government’s housing agenda is not just for the elite — it’s for boda riders, traders, teachers, and civil servants across every county,” said one of our partners.
🏡 Housing for Dignity
The Affordable Housing Programme, implemented by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, aims to deliver 200,000 housing units annually while creating over 300,000 jobs in construction and related sectors.
In the Western and North Rift regions, several projects are already underway — including Bungoma Town Affordable Housing Estate, Eldoret East Project, and Kitale’s planned mixed-use housing complex.
During the campaign, Khendo FM hosted on-site broadcasts from project locations, bringing listeners firsthand updates on construction progress, employment opportunities, and registration processes via the Boma Yangu platform.
📈 Local Impact
Local leaders and residents have praised the initiative, noting that community-based media is a powerful vehicle for mobilizing participation and transparency.
“Khendo FM speaks the language of the people. When they explain government projects in our dialects, we understand better and trust more,” said a trader in Webuye who called into one of the live shows.
The collaboration also demonstrated how public communication partnerships between government agencies and credible regional broadcasters can boost policy adoption, dispel misinformation, and foster accountability.
💬 What’s Next
Following the campaign’s success, Khendo FM has expressed interest in extending similar initiatives to cover upcoming phases of the Affordable Housing rollout, particularly in smaller towns and peri-urban centers where uptake remains low.
“We are proud to have contributed to an informed citizenry and a more inclusive housing conversation,” said a Khendo FM acting GM Aggrey Narurucha. “Our listeners don’t just want to hear about projects — they want to be part of them.”
The partnership between Khendo FM, Apex Novelli, and the State Department for Housing and Urban Development underscores a growing recognition of the role vernacular and regional media play in advancing Kenya’s development agenda.
By blending grassroots communication with national policy messaging, the one-month campaign proved that sustainable development begins with awareness, access, and accountability — and that Kenya’s housing dream can indeed be built, one informed citizen at a time.
