The Malaysian government plans to invest in Kenya’s affordable housing program, spearheaded by President William Ruto.
During a virtual press conference on Saturday, October 23, 2025, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ruzaimi Mohamad, announced that the Malaysian government would extend its cooperation to help Kenya achieve its housing goals by investing in President Ruto’s projects.
“The Kenyan President is very active in leading affordable housing initiatives. Malaysia has a successful track record in similar projects that have helped many Malaysians become homeowners, and we can collaborate with Kenya to accomplish the same,” he said.
Ruzaimi mentioned that Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is scheduled to visit Kenya on Sunday, November 23, 2025, for several days, during which he will meet with President Ruto to discuss affordable housing initiatives.
The High Commissioner noted that the Prime Minister would arrive in Kenya at around 6:00 p.m. local time, accompanied by the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department of Federal Territories, Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa.
Malaysia to Invest in Kenya’s Affordable Housing Initiative
In addition to affordable housing projects, Ruzaimi stated that President Ruto and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would also discuss opportunities in the digital economy, which he identified as another sector with significant potential for Malaysian companies in Kenya.
Furthermore, during the Prime Minister’s official visit, the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting during which they will witness the exchange of memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements, including those related to tourism and those between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Nairobi City Council.
Also Read: Ruto’s Affordable Housing Program Earns Global Recognition
Other activities planned for the Malaysian Prime Minister during his visit to Kenya include:
– Attending the Malaysia-Africa Higher Education Forum in Nairobi, where he will deliver the keynote address and officially open the program.
– Giving a keynote address at the Malaysia-Kenya High-Level Business Forum, which is expected to attract around 200 representatives from Malaysian and Kenyan companies.
– Meeting with a Kenyan company interested in establishing investment cooperation in agriculture with a Malaysian firm.
– Engaging with leaders of Kenya’s Islamic community and representatives from the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi.
– Attending a luncheon with Malaysians, including alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), a short-term training initiative offered by the Malaysian government to developing countries worldwide, including Kenya.
Ruto Says Affordable Housing Program Inspiration Drawn from Asian Tigers Economic Transformation
President William Ruto mentioned the Malaysian Prime Minister’s upcoming visit during his recent State of the Nation address on November 20, highlighting that the affordable housing program is inspired by the models of Singapore and Malaysia.
Ruto has often cited the success stories of “Asian tigers” like Singapore and Malaysia as examples for Kenya’s economic transformation, including the affordable housing project.
Also Read: 20% of Affordable Housing Units to Be Reserved for Teachers
He has expressed a desire to replicate Singapore’s highly successful public housing model, which enables a significant majority of citizens to live in affordable public housing through a system involving mandatory contributions to a housing fund.
The Kenyan government aims to construct 200,000 houses annually to address the national housing deficit, drawing on lessons from these Asian nations.
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