President William Ruto has hit back at leaders calling for the scrapping of the Affordable Housing Programme and the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking to Kenyans living in the United States in New York, Ruto defended the two programmes as key pillars of his administration.
Ruto is in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is leading Kenya’s investment and diplomatic engagements.
The President said leaders seeking to abolish housing and SHA had failed to offer alternative plans for the millions of Kenyans who benefit from the programmes.
“If you hear anybody pretending to be a leader in Kenya and saying the thing they want to do is to abolish housing or to abolish SHA, just know that you are looking at a fool,” Ruto said.
“That one is an idiot. They don’t deserve to read anything,” he added.
Ruto questioned why any leader would want to stop a programme aimed at providing decent housing to Kenyans living in informal settlements.
“Surely people, you’re telling us you want our citizens to continue living in slums, really?” he asked.
The President also defended the housing programme as a major source of employment, saying about one million people were working in areas linked to its implementation.
He cited mechanical and civil engineers, electricians, plumbers and other workers involved in the construction sector.
Ruto challenged his political opponents to explain what would happen to the workers if the programme was abolished.
“Let’s compete on ideas that take the country forward,” he said.
The President further questioned whether his political opponents had alternative plans for the country or were simply opposing his administration.
“Sometimes I wonder whether I have competitors or I have mere haters,” Ruto said.
“Because they have nothing. They have no idea. They are not telling us they have a different plan from the one we have.”
Ruto has repeatedly defended the Affordable Housing Programme as both a housing and employment initiative.
During his New York engagement, he also defended SHA, saying the programme had expanded health coverage compared with the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“The defunct National Health Insurance Fund had between six to seven million registered members. But SHA has registered 33 million Kenyans since October 2024,” he said.
The remarks come as the housing levy and SHA remain subjects of political debate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ruto is in New York for a week of high-level engagements focused on investment, trade, technology and Africa’s role in the global economy.
He is also expected to push for new capital into sectors including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, agriculture and technology.
