Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has addressed the delayed payment of interns placed under the Affordable Housing programme.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 5, during an interview on NTV, PS Hinga acknowledged the delay and attributed it to a mix-up in the payroll.
Hinga explained that the confusion arose during the merging of payroll details from the Exchequer and those of the interns, and assured the interns that they would receive their stipends within the week.
“It is true the interns have not been paid. No one has actually been paid, including myself. What happened is that we have two budgets: the Exchequer, which comes from the National Treasury, and the budget from the housing levy,” Hinga said.
“So, there was a mistake when they combined the two payrolls, the Exchequer and the one for interns.”
Also Read: How Kenyans Will Withdraw Affordable Housing Savings if They Opt Out – PS Hinga
PS Hinga Says Affordable Housing Interns Yet to Be Paid Due to ‘Payroll Mix-Up’
According to Hinga, the interns were supposed to be paid by the April 25 because the funds are available.
However, he noted that the other payment from the Exchequer is usually delayed as they wait for the Treasury to remit the money.
“There was a mix-up, and they were not able to desegregate the two payrolls and were told to wait for the Exchequer to be sent. We have their money, it’s just that it was a mistake that should not have happened in terms of processing the two payrolls,” he stated.
PS Hinga assured the Affordable Housing interns that the issue is being addressed and that payments will be in their accounts by Thursday, May 7, 2026.
“By tomorrow, at the latest on Thursday, the interns should be paid. I will follow up today because these are young people and it’s a stipend and they are out of pocket because they have to travel to sites,” Hinga added.
Also Read: Puzzle Over Who Really Owns Affordable Housing Land Countrywide
Affordable Housing Interns Recruitment
The interns began working at the Affordable Housing sites in January this year after being recruited by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
In July 2025, the Public Service Commission announced more than 4,000 internship opportunities for graduates under the Affordable Housing Programme.
The positions covered a wide range of fields, including architecture, civil and electrical engineering, construction management, mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, structural engineering, communication and branding, environmental studies, and geoinformation.
It also covered health and safety, interior design, land surveying, landscape architecture, real estate, social development, urban planning, digital marketing, accounting, data entry, finance, building inspection, legal services, and supply chain management.
Additional roles included data analysts, data science and artificial intelligence specialists, information communication technology officers, inspectors for gas, plumbing and drainage, economists, actuaries, human resource officers, gender and development specialists, valuers, property managers, and property marketers.
Applicants were required to hold a diploma or bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution and to have graduated not earlier than 2018.
