Charles Hinga Mwaura was not popular in the country, until former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him in 2018 as Principal Secretary for Housing, Urban Development and public works.
President William Ruto re-appointed Hinga in November 2022 to serve as Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
The PS was highly visible in the previous government’s affordable housing initiatives, which were part of Uhuru's Big 4 Agenda that hardly kicked off despite the hype.
Hinga had spent most of his adult life in South Africa where he participated actively in implementation of mega-infrastructure projects in urban areas via public-private partnerships.
Hinga, who is a resident of Nakuru County, moved to South Africa in 1999 after his parents relocated there.
Speaking during an interview in July 2022, he revealed that he took over a sector that had failed.
“We have made affordable housing a relevant conversation, what we have done is embedded in law, in article 41 of our Kenyan constitution, successive governments can only build on it,” he stated.
Hinga also explained how he misses his daughters who were in South Africa, adding that he had to quit his private sector engagements in South Africa to serve the Ministry.
“I am a banker by profession, I miss my daughters, they are in South Africa, but when the president called on me, I accepted to join public service,” he stated during the interview.
His achievements include serving as an adviser on the City of Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system, a project that was focusing on providing better public transport and reduce congestion on public roads.
He acknowledged that he had made networks and attended high level meetings due to his expertise and experience in the banking sector.
“I have made serious networks, I have enjoyed privileges of addressing the United Nation assembly, World Bank meetings,” he noted.
He has a bachelor of commerce (accounting option) degree from Kenyatta University. He also holds a bachelor of accounting science (honours) from the University of South Africa.
On May 23, the Housing PS told the Senate committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa, that the Kenyan Government was committed to build 200 housing units per constituency in the 2023/24 financial year beginning June, 2023.
The PS explained that the government plans to upgrade slum areas with affordable housing project to ensure better living conditions for Kenyans from low income backgrounds.
He further told the committee that according to 2019 census, there were 1411 informal settlements in Kenya, which needed to be transformed.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, May 24, Hinga sought to breakdown the proposed housing levy as outlined in the Finance Bill, 2023.
In an animated and sweaty speech, Hinga explained that the housing levy should be made mandatory, to serve as assurance to foreign investors who will partner with government in putting up houses.
He reassured Kenyans that the government was actively working to transform the housing sector in the country.
