Ruto: Affordable Housing Programme will forever change Kenya’s destiny

President William Ruto has positioned the Affordable Housing Programme as a cornerstone of Kenya's economic transformation, stating it has evolved into a significant source of employment and business opportunities for millions of Kenyans. The initiative has generated employment for approximately 1.1 million people while expanding the construction industry's value chain by fueling demand for essential building materials like steel, glass, timber, cement, and more.

During a recent media engagement, Ruto challenged proponents of abolishing the programme to propose viable alternatives, emphasizing the jobs and opportunities it has created. He also highlighted the programme's role in the government's efforts to eradicate slums within the next 15 years. Ruto stressed the importance of maintaining the housing value chain when considering any abolition proposal, as it offers people a chance to own homes with basic amenities.

Additionally, the Housing Fund is being utilized to enhance facilities for small-scale traders and university students, providing them with dignified spaces and addressing accommodation challenges in higher education institutions. The President argued that planned housing development helps alleviate land fragmentation by reducing pressure to subdivide agricultural land for settlements, aligning with broader efforts to safeguard food production.

Ruto emphasized that affordable housing has been a part of Kenya's development agenda since independence, with the potential to profoundly impact the nation's social and economic landscape. He declared the Affordable Housing Programme as a transformative force that can forever change the destiny of the country.