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Affordable Housing Levy (AHL) calculator

The Affordable Housing Levy is 1.5% of your gross salary deducted monthly, with your employer matching another 1.5%. Type your gross to see your contribution and the total flowing to the AHL fund.

Gross monthly salary

KES

Result

Your contribution (1.5%)

KES 750

Employer match (1.5%)

KES 750

Total going to AHL fund

KES 1,500

Your annual cost

KES 9,000

By paybillke · Updated May 2026 · Affordable Housing Act 2024

Independent. Not affiliated with any company listed.

1.5% employee + 1.5% employer of gross monthly salary. Refundable on employment exit.

How we verify →

What the levy actually pays for

The AHL funds the government's Affordable Housing Programme, units sold via the AHL portal (boma yangu / ahousing.go.ke). Contributors get registered for the housing scheme and can apply for units once they've contributed for at least 12 months.

Key numbers

Rate: 1.5% employee + 1.5% employer = 3% total (employer cost)
Cap: none, applies to your full gross
Tax treatment: deductible from gross before PAYE is calculated
Withdrawal: balance refundable on exit from formal employment, less any housing benefits taken

Self-employed?

Yes, informal sector contributors pay 1.5% of declared monthly income with no employer match, register via the AHL portal. Helpful if you want to access the affordable housing allocation as a freelancer.

Frequently asked

Is the levy refundable?

Yes. Unused balance refunded on exit from employment, less the cost of any AHL housing unit you were allocated.

Can I opt out?

No, it is a statutory deduction for all gross salaried employees under the Affordable Housing Act 2024.

How does this compare to a deposit on a house?

On KES 100k gross, you pay 1,500/mo or 18,000/yr. To save a 10% deposit on a 5M house (500k), at the AHL rate alone it would take 27 years, so it is contribution to a national pool, not a personal savings vehicle.