KDF Families Occupy New Roysambu Housing Units

Military personnel and their dependents have started the transition into a new residential complex at Roysambu Military Camp. This movement follows the formal handover of the facility, which occurred on Thursday, 26 February 2026. President William Ruto, acting in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, presided over the commissioning ceremony.

The occupation of these units is part of a broader welfare enhancement programme managed by the Ministry of Defence. This initiative focuses on the provision of decent, high-quality living spaces for service members. The transition into the new quarters is intended to address longstanding housing shortages within the barracks and improve the overall standard of living for those serving in the military.

Inside the new units, families are already establishing their homes. Initial reports and images from the camp show two-bedroom and three-bedroom configurations designed to accommodate different family sizes. These modern apartments feature updated interiors, tiled flooring, and fitted kitchens, which represent a departure from older, more cramped corrugated iron or aging stone structures often found in older military installations.

The Roysambu project is one of several ongoing residential developments across various military bases in Kenya. During the commissioning, it was noted that the government remains committed to ensuring that the men and women in uniform have access to social amenities, including healthcare and education facilities, within their residential areas.

For the families moving in, the new environment offers more than just shelter. The layout of the Roysambu camp includes paved walkways, reliable water supply systems, and enhanced security features typical of modern gated communities. These improvements are aimed at providing a stable domestic environment, which the Ministry of Defence argues is crucial for the morale and operational readiness of the force.

The construction of these units was fast-tracked to meet the growing demand for housing within the city. Roysambu, located along the busy Thika Superhighway, is a strategic location for the KDF, and the completion of this phase of the housing project is expected to reduce the number of officers forced to seek private accommodation far from their workstations.

Government officials present at the launch emphasized that the financing of such projects is a priority under the current administration's pillar for affordable and decent housing. By providing these units within the camp, the KDF also reduces the logistical burden of transporting personnel from off-site locations during emergencies or routine duties.

The settlement process is expected to continue in phases as more blocks reach full completion. Engineers from the KDF and private contractors have been working on-site to ensure that all utility connections, including electricity and waste management, are fully functional before families receive their keys.

As the first group of residents settles in, the focus now shifts to the next phase of the welfare programme, which includes similar developments in Lanet, Gilgil, and Mombasa. These projects collectively form the largest housing investment for the military in recent decades, aimed at modernizing the force's infrastructure to match global standards.