No more forceful evictions without proper resettlement plan - Ruto

President William Ruto (L) at Tena Estate during the inspection of the ongoing works at the Tena Estate Comprehensive School, March 14, 2025. /PCS

The government will not allow forceful evictions without a proper resettlement plan for residents in disputed lands in Nairobi, President William Ruto has said.

The President said there should be proper plans to resettle residents before people are evicted in disputed areas.

Speaking at Njiru Junction in Nairobi on his fifth day working tour of Kasarani, Embakasi West and Makadara constituencies on Friday, the President said he was aware of the land dispute pitting some residents and a landowner.

"The government is aware of land disputes in many parts of the country, including Nairobi. As we seek to resolve these challenges, no eviction will be carried out until the affected families are provided with other options,” the President said.

He said the National Government and the County Government of Nairobi will work together to address land disputes.

At the same time, President Ruto reiterated his resolve to work with like-minded leaders to unite the country.

He urged leaders to work together, avoid divisive tendencies, and respect one another.

The President pointed out that politics of hatred, jealousy, and division undermined national unity and harmony among Kenyans.

"Kenya has no room for retrogressive politics. We are one people, one nation, with a common destiny," he said.

He said every community is in Kenya by right and deserves to be served by the government equally and fairly.

"The resources Kenya has can accommodate all of us. We don't want a situation where one community comes in and another leaves the government," President Ruto said.

Enumerating the government's development initiatives for Nairobi County, President Ruto said water shortage that has characterised the city for decades will be a thing of the past.

He explained that the Northern Water Collector Tunnel project in Murang'a has been completed and pipes have been laid to connect water to city estates.

He pointed out that water pipes have now connected Kiambu and Kasarani, Kabete and Embakasi, and Lang'ata, among other areas, saying the country's capital will receive an additional water supply of 140 million litres a day.

While in Embakasi West, the President broke ground for the construction of the Umoja Sewerage System and announced that the project will connect more than 50,000 households to the sewer line in Kariobangi, Maili Saba, Umoja, Saika, Tassia and Tena estates in Nairobi.

"We are also building a 60km sewer line to address the problem of solid waste in the county," he said.

He went on: "We are improving sanitation by providing proper waste management to enhance quality of life and human dignity, especially in urban areas."

On infrastructure, President Ruto pointed out that KSh2 billion has been set aside to improve roads in the city's estates.

Additionally, the President pledged to ensure that more classrooms are built in city public schools, saying many children in Nairobi did not have access to education due to a shortage of the necessary infrastructure.

He said MPs in the 17 constituencies in Nairobi were building at least 30 classrooms each following the government's allocation of Sh1 billion.

"We will ensure that all our children go to school.  Through quality education, we can make our country more equal," he said.

President Ruto also undertook to build 40 classrooms for primary and secondary education in Tena Estate.

He made the remarks when he inspected the ongoing works at Tena Estate Comprehensive School.

Earlier at Njiru Mixed Day Secondary School, the President also pledged to build 10 more classrooms.

And while launching Jogoo Road Affordable Housing Project Phase 1, President Ruto said the time had come for every Kenyan to have an opportunity to own a decent home.

He said the government targets to build 100,000 affordable houses in Nairobi in an effort to transform slums into estates. On politics, President Ruto said Kenyans should judge him on what he will have done for Kenya by 2027.

"This is not the time for politics. Elections will be held in 2027, and it is the people of Kenya who will decide who their leaders will be. Let's now work to address the challenges facing the country," he said.

The President pledged to work hard with the mandate the people of Kenya gave him in 2022, saying it is still early for anyone to judge his performance.