President William Ruto has hit back at critics of his Affordable Housing Programme, arguing that the project is not only about providing homes but also creating jobs and income for young Kenyans.
Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, Ruto responded to claims that Kenya’s main problem is lack of income rather than housing.
“Shida ya Kenya ni income. Lakini sikia, my friend, how do you get income? Housing.” (Kenya’s problem is income. But listen, my friend – how do you get income? Housing.)
Ruto explained that the housing programme was creating employment opportunities for young people, who then earn money and improve their living standards.
“Pale kwa housing hawa vijana wakifanya kazi wanapata pesa, hiyo ndiyo income.” (In housing, when these young people work, they earn money. That is income.)
The President said the Affordable Housing Programme was designed to address three major challenges facing Kenyans: housing, unemployment and lack of income.
“Kwa hivyo hii programme yetu ya housing inasolve shida tatu: inasolve shida ya housing, inasolve shida ya income, na pia inasolve shida ya employment.” (So our housing programme solves three problems: it solves the housing problem, the income problem and also the employment problem.)
His remarks came a day after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna criticised the programme during a Linda Mwananchi rally at Jacaranda Grounds.
Sifuna argued that the country’s main problem was lack of income and questioned whether the housing programme was addressing the challenges facing people living in informal settlements.
Ruto, however, dismissed calls to stop the housing programme, asking what would happen to Kenyans living in informal settlements if the projects were abandoned.
“Mnatwambia Wakenya waendelee kuishi kwa mabitongoji kule kwa slums – mahali kuna chawa, kuna uchafu, hakuna skimu, hakuna barabara?” (Are you telling Kenyans to continue living in slums, where there are lice, dirt, no drainage systems and no roads?)
He also questioned whether mothers should continue running businesses under difficult conditions.
“Mnatwambia kina mama wetu waendelee kuuza kwa jua, kwa mvua, kwa vumbi?” (Are you telling our mothers to continue selling their goods in the sun, rain and dust?)
Ruto further questioned whether university, TVET and KMTC students should continue living in informal settlements without basic services.
“Mnatwambia vijana wetu wa university, na TVET, na KMTC waendelee kuishi katika vitongoji duni, mahali hakuna maji, hakuna stima?” (Are you telling our university, TVET and KMTC students to continue living in poor settlements where there is no water and no electricity?)
The President maintained that the housing programme would create opportunities for young people while providing them with decent homes.
He then sought the crowd’s backing for the programme, asking whether the government should continue with the initiative.
“Tendelee ama tusitendelee? Semeni tuendelee!” (Should we continue or should we stop? Say we should continue!)
The exchange comes as the Affordable Housing Programme increasingly takes centre stage in the political contest ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the Ruto administration defending it as both a housing and economic empowerment programme.