Sifuna pledges affordable houses for police officers if elected President

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has promised to provide affordable housing units for National Police Service officers if he is elected as President of Kenya. In an address at Jacaranda Grounds during a Linda Mwananchi rally, Sifuna emphasized that police officers should be eligible for the government’s Affordable Housing Programme due to their crucial role in maintaining security and order in the nation.

Speaking alongside Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Sifuna praised the police for their professional handling of the opposition supporters’ convoy in Nairobi, noting that they maintained order without causing disruptions, unlike previous incidents where tear gas was used against protestors.

Sifuna also expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Affordable Housing Programme in addressing issues in Nairobi’s informal settlements. He challenged President William Ruto to provide evidence of slums that have been eliminated as a direct result of the construction of these affordable housing units. Sifuna pointed out that when Ruto was first elected, slums were already present in Mathare, Mukuru kwa Njenga, and Kibera, questioning the tangible impact of the housing initiatives.

According to government statistics, the Affordable Housing Programme has already delivered over 8,000 completed housing units so far.

Sifuna argued that the housing crisis in Kenya is also intertwined with income problems, as many residents in Nairobi lack sufficient disposable income to afford decent housing. The Affordable Housing Levy mandates that employees contribute 1.5 percent of their gross salary, with employers matching that contribution. The government has set a goal of constructing 250,000 affordable housing units annually, primarily targeting low- and middle-income households.