Sifuna fires back at Ruto as affordable housing clash escalates

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has responded to President William Ruto's criticism of his remarks on the Affordable Housing Programme, extending a public exchange between the two leaders with a fresh political jab.

The senator reacted on Thursday through his social media platforms, hours after the President criticised comments he made about high-rise affordable housing during an interview on Mulembe FM.

The latest remarks add to an ongoing political exchange over one of the Kenya Kwanza administration's flagship programmes.

During the radio interview on July 22, Sifuna questioned the suitability of multi-storey affordable housing developments for some communities.

"As people from the western Region, we cannot live in places where our chicken cannot enter. How will our chicken get to the 12th floor of an affordable housing unit?" he said.

Speaking at State House during a meeting with more than 5,000 artisans and mechanics from Nairobi County on Thursday, Ruto dismissed the remarks as he defended the government's housing agenda.

"So you are telling us not to build affordable houses because your chicken cannot get to the 12th floor? I have said it before, there are people without brains. How do you even say something like that?" the President said.

Ruto maintained that the Affordable Housing Programme is intended to address Kenya's housing shortage while creating employment opportunities and improving living conditions.

The President also accused some of his political opponents of ridiculing government programmes instead of presenting alternative policy proposals.

Sifuna later responded with a brief post that read: "Ku argue na mimi mambo ya kuku ni kama ku argue na Methu mambo ya waru."

The exchange is the latest in a series of public disagreements between the President and opposition leaders over the Affordable Housing Programme.

The government has consistently defended the initiative, saying it is designed to bridge the country's housing deficit, create jobs across the construction value chain and stimulate economic growth.

According to government figures, the programme has so far delivered over 8000 completed housing units.

The latest political exchange also comes after the State Department for Housing and Urban Development dismissed reports claiming contributors had withdrawn Sh2.56 billion from the Affordable Housing Programme because they had lost confidence in the initiative.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and Affordable Housing Board chief executive Joe Mutugu said the reported amount largely represented Boma Yangu savings being utilised by buyers during the home purchase process rather than contributors exiting the programme.

The department said reports suggesting contributors had withdrawn the funds due to a lack of confidence in the housing initiative were misleading, maintaining that the programme continues to facilitate home ownership for eligible Kenyans.