Turkish businessman Harun Aydin, who was deported from Kenya in 2021, has reportedly secured a significant stake in President William Ruto’s multi-billion-shilling affordable housing program.
The Turk, who is also President William Ruto’s close ally was expelled following allegations of terrorism links, raising eyebrows over how he managed to secure a multibillion-shilling contract to construct 100,000 affordable housing units.
Background to Deportation
In August 2021, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i 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.
At the time, Aydin was associated with 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.
The Affordable Housing Contract
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, but other stakeholders have defended the decision, asserting that all necessary due diligence was conducted before awarding the contract.
With a goal of building 250,000 housing units per year using the contentious housing levy imposed on Kenyan workers and employers, the Kenya Kwanza administration’s involvement of tainted businessmen like Harun Aydin has fueled doubts about the credibility and oversight of the initiative.
