KENYA : President William Ruto's administration has faced several Corruption and Conflict of Interest cases since it's ascension to power over two years ago with top gov't officials and politically connected individuals benefiting from lucrative government contracts.
This has raised concerns about the administration's commitment to transparency and fairness, especially given Ruto's campaign promises to root out corruption and end favoritism in public procurement.
This ties into a broader pattern where individuals close to the administration, have allegedly influenced contract awards or used proxies to rip-off the Citizenry.
Powerful individuals and long-time associates of Ruto, have taken up pivotal roles within government projects like the Affordable housing Project.
In the Wake of Fishy deals and Contracts implicating President William Ruto's administration, a Controversial Turkish businessman, has reportedly secured a significant stake in the multi-billion-shilling affordable housing program.
A company linked to Turkish Businessman Harun Aydin, who was deported from Kenya in 2021, has won a tender to construct 100,000 housing Units in the Affordable Housing Project.
The Turk, President Ruto's close Ally, deported from the East African Country following allegations of terrorism links, has raised eyebrows over how he managed to secure a multibillion-shilling contract to construct 100,000 affordable housing units.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, in August 2021, informed the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security that an analysis of Aydin’s frequent travels in and out of Kenya suggested ties to foreigners engaged in money laundering.
According to Matiang’i, the Turkish national applied for a Class G investor’s work permit on November 24, 2020, and was granted approval on June 25, 2021. This permit allowed him to operate Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa Limited, a company dealing in energy-related business.
A closer review of Aydin’s work permit documents however revealed that he had yet to receive a formal contract granting him unrestricted operational rights.
“He (Harun Aydin) provided the immigration department with a contract stating that he was allowed to work in the energy sector in Kenya. We have, however, discovered that he presented a dummy contract, (and not the genuine approval),” he said.
In the same month, Harun Aydin was flagged by Kenyan authorities as a suspect in terrorism financing and money laundering.
He was arrested upon his return from Uganda at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and later deported to Turkey in a highly publicized crackdown on alleged illicit financial networks.
Aydin was associated with the then Deputy President William Ruto, having been part of his delegation on a planned trip to Uganda that was eventually called off.
Ruto defended Aydin, calling him a legitimate investor and arguing that his removal was driven by political tensions following Ruto’s fallout with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Aydin maintained a close relationship with President Ruto, as he returned to Kenya soon after Ruto assumed office in 2022. His presence at a State House luncheon hosted by the president shortly after the inauguration underscored their strong ties, further solidifying his position within Ruto’s inner circle.
In 2023, just six months after Ruto took office, Aydin registered his company, MHOA Africa Limited. Co-owned with his Turkish partner Hamit Demir, the firm became one of 200 companies vying for affordable housing contracts.
MHOA was then selected under Category A, designated for developers responsible for building over 100,000 units. In February 2025, the company secured a major contract to construct the units in Kenya through a joint venture with Demir Group, with Aydin holding a 50% stake.
The joint venture is set to handle the design, financing, and construction of homes on public land, leveraging incentives like expedited approvals and tax breaks. Additionally, the government will support the sale of the houses, guaranteeing a consistent revenue flow for the developers.
The awarding of this contract to Aydin’s company has stirred controversy, igniting public debate over the due diligence process in vetting development firms.
Many are questioning the implications for governance and accountability, particularly amid declining public trust and growing demands for transparency and integrity in government dealings.
The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development has yet to comment on the deal.
Critics argue that the lack of transparency in awarding tenders to politically linked individuals undermines the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
The concern is that Kenya’s public resources are being channeled to a select elite, leaving the public with the sense that the same old patterns of favoritism are in play.
