[Client Impact]
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
[Client Impact]
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Overview
The Affordable Housing Board is the institution charged with delivering one of Kenya’s largest social programmes, backed by a USD 1.05B allocation in the FY2026/27 budget. ACAL was engaged to recruit its entire leadership structure through open competitive selection: the Chief Executive Officer, the Corporation Secretary, the full General Manager tier, and the management layer beneath them.
Over 24 senior roles recruited for a single national institution, from Chief Executive Officer to assistant manager tier
Full leadership architecture staffed in one coordinated exercise: CEO, Corporation Secretary, six General Manager positions, and the complete management layer
CEO recruitment results presented to the Board in May 2026, closing out the most senior appointment in the programme
Merit-based, defensible selection process for an institution operating under intense public and political scrutiny
Client Context
Kenya's affordable housing programme is among the most ambitious social undertakings in the country's history, financed through the housing levy and successive budget allocations, and charged with delivering homes at a scale the market has never produced. The Affordable Housing Board was established as the programme's dedicated delivery institution, holding responsibility for fund management, project development, allocation, and the stewardship of billions of shillings in public resources.
A new institution with a mandate of this size has one asset that matters before any other: its people. Every function the Board would perform, from investment and resource mobilisation to project management, land administration, credit management, and home allocation, required leadership recruited to a standard that would withstand the scrutiny attached to one of the most politically visible programmes in the country.
The Challenge
Staffing a new national institution is a different discipline from filling a vacancy. The Affordable Housing Board needed its entire leadership structure built at once: a Chief Executive Officer capable of carrying a flagship national mandate, a Corporation Secretary and General Manager for Legal Services, General Managers for Fund Services, Project Development, Corporate Services, and Internal Audit, and a complete management tier spanning legal, home allocation, credit, investment and resource mobilisation, engineering, estate management, land administration, supply chain, human resources, ICT, finance, planning, communications, and monitoring and evaluation.
Each role demanded its own competency profile, from architects and engineers to fund managers and auditors. The process had to run at pace, because the programme could not wait, and to an evidentiary standard that could survive challenge, because senior public appointments in Kenya are contested terrain. A single procedural flaw in any appointment could expose the institution to litigation and the programme to reputational damage. The recruitment had to be simultaneously fast, rigorous, and visibly fair.
Our Approach
ACAL structured the engagement as an institutional staffing programme rather than a sequence of individual searches.
Role architecture and competency profiling: each of the 24-plus positions defined against the Board's mandate, with clear competency frameworks and evaluation criteria set before advertisement
Open competitive sourcing: national advertisement and structured candidate attraction designed to build deep, diverse applicant pools for every tier
Multi-stage merit assessment: longlisting, technical shortlisting, structured interviews, and integrity screening applied uniformly, with documented evidence at every stage
Board-level reporting and decision support: results packaged for the appointing authority with full audit trails, including the formal CEO recruitment results presentation delivered in May 2026
Solution Delivered
ACAL delivered the executive search process for the Affordable Housing Board’s inaugural leadership team, covering the Chief Executive Officer, the Corporation Secretary and General Manager Legal Services, the General Managers for Fund Services, Project Development, Corporate Services, and Internal Audit, together with the assistant manager cadre across the institution.
Each recruitment process was supported by a documented, transparent, and defensible selection methodology. The engagement reached its first major milestone with the successful recruitment and appointment of the Chief Executive Officer following presentation of the final evaluation results to the Board in May 2026. Recruitment for the remaining executive and management positions is continuing as the Board builds out its full leadership structure.
24+
Senior Roles Filled
24+
Senior Roles Filled
100+
Shortlisted Candidates
100+
Shortlisted Candidates
6
GM Positions
6
GM Positions
1
CEO Recruited
1
CEO Recruited
Impact
The Affordable Housing Board now operates with a full leadership complement recruited on merit, the institutional foundation on which a multi-billion shilling national programme depends. Programme risk analysis consistently identifies leadership quality as the most common cause of institutional failure in new public bodies. That risk has been addressed at the Board before a single major delivery milestone falls due.
For the housing programme, the recruitment converts a budget allocation into executable capability: fund services, project development, credit management, and allocation functions each led by professionals selected through open competition. For the wider public sector, the engagement demonstrates that an entire national institution can be staffed quickly without compromising process integrity, a precedent with direct relevance to every new authority and fund Kenya establishes.
Key Takeaways
New institutions should be staffed as systems, not as vacancies
Recruiting a leadership structure in one coordinated exercise ensures the competency map covers the mandate without gaps or overlaps, and lets the appointing authority see the institution whole. Sequential, role-by-role hiring builds institutions by accident.
Process integrity is a delivery asset
In politically visible programmes, the defensibility of each appointment protects the institution long after the hire. Documented, uniform, merit-based selection is not administrative caution. It is what allows leaders to govern with authority from their first day.
Executive search is institution building
The measure of a public sector recruitment is not the placement. It is whether the institution can carry its mandate. Staffing the Affordable Housing Board from the chief executive down was, in substance, the construction of the programme's delivery engine.
How We Helped Clients Grow Smarter
How We Helped Clients Grow Smarter
How We Helped Clients Grow Smarter
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Bringing Pension Savings to Kenya's Informal Sector
Five year strategic plan for the KNEST, using human-centred design to build a pension strategy for marginalized informal sector workers.
Impact Evaluation of Climate-Smart Agriculture for Farmers
Impact evaluation of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, assessing productivity and income gains for smallholder farmers.
Staffing AHB from the Chief Executive Down
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
County Capacity Performance Assessment
Independent Verification Agency for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, assessing the capacity and performance of all 47 county governments against World Bank-financed grant conditions.
Securing Kenya’s Communications Regulator
Establishing and certifying the information security framework underpinning Kenya’s national communications regulator and cybersecurity mandate.
Independent Oversight on 35 km of PPP Roads
ACAL serves as Independent Engineer for 35.1 km of PPP roads in Western Kenya, overseeing USD 27.1M in performance-based payments across four counties.
Change the Game
Work with Experts to Change the Game
Work with Experts to Change the Game
40+ major programmes delivered
100% project completion rate
GCF accredited · One of 54 worldwide
