Ruto: Affordable housing programme has created 1.1 million jobs

President William Ruto highlighted that the affordable housing programme has been the largest job-creation initiative since he came into office four years ago, with over 1.1 million individuals finding employment within the sector. During a gathering with Teso elders at Eldoret State Lodge on August 29, 2026, the head of state mentioned that the programme has provided job opportunities in various fields such as mechanics, civil engineering, plumbing, and other construction-related professions.

Ruto drew a comparison between the job creation in this sector and the number of teachers hired during his term, stating that approximately 100,000 teachers have been employed in Kenya. He emphasized that this figure is significantly lower compared to the over 1.1 million people who have gained employment through the affordable housing programme.

The president also underlined Kenya's transformation into a construction hub under his leadership, supported by data showing a surge in cement consumption, as reported by cement manufacturers. Meanwhile, the construction boom has coincided with a disagreement between President Ruto and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna regarding the design of high-rise houses under the Affordable Housing Programme in Western Kenya.

Sifuna questioned the feasibility of 12-storey buildings for communities without chickens, arguing that they would not be able to go to the 12th floor. Ruto countered this argument, dismissing the critics and asserting that they were being unfair, stating that the government would continue to build affordable houses regardless of opposition.

Ruto's administration maintains that the housing programme is generating jobs and offering decent homes to Kenyans. Sifuna responded to the criticism on his social media platforms, comparing his argument about chickens to a discussion with Nyandarua Senator John Methu about potatoes, further escalating the political dispute surrounding the affordable housing programme and positioning Sifuna as a prominent critic of the president ahead of the 2027 general election.