President William Ruto has promised to build 40,000 affordable house units for the families that were evicted from riparian lands in Nairobi.
President Ruto who on Monday, September 9, 2024, inspected the ongoing construction of the 4,054-unit Kibera Soweto East Affordable Housing Project, stated through his official X account that the said house units will be constructed, but did not give a time frame.
In his statement, Ruto only gave time frames for the construction of the second and third phases of the Kibera Soweto East Affordable Housing Project, after which the building of the houses for the Nairobi eviction victims will kick off.
Ruto on Kibera housing project
According to the Head of State, Phase 2 of the Kibera affordable housing project which will consist of 15,000 house units will commence before the end of this year, while the third phase of the project will commence in January 2025, with 20,000 house units expected to be put up.
“We are determined to eliminate slums from our cities and towns to ensure Kenyans live in decent, dignified homes with guaranteed social amenities. This will be achieved through the Affordable Housing Programme. In Kibera, Nairobi County, inspected the ongoing construction of the 4,054-unit Kibera Soweto East Affordable Housing Project,” Ruto stated.
“Construction for the 15,000 units Phase II project will commence before the end of the year, while Phase III, for 20,000 units, will start in January next year. We will also build 40000 units to accommodate families that were moved from riparian reserves in Nairobi County.”
During his tour of the Kibera project, President Ruto was in the company of Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja and Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o.
We are determined to eliminate slums from our cities and towns to ensure Kenyans live in decent, dignified homes with guaranteed social amenities. This will be achieved through the Affordable Housing Programme.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 9, 2024
In Kibera, Nairobi County, inspected the ongoing construction of the… pic.twitter.com/axX6foLxjn
Nairobi demolitions
Following the floods that were witnessed in Nairobi and across the country in April and May 2024, the government in collaboration with the Nairobi City County started demolishing structures and buildings constructed along riparian land near Nairobi Rivers.
The majority of the victims whose homes were built in flood-prone areas in Nairobi slums, primarily women and children, complained that they had not been given any notice to vacate their structures.
Victims were not provided with alternative shelter, with most of the families receiving Ksh10,000 as compensation.
The most affected were people residing along the Nairobi River in Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Mathare slums.
