- Raila Odinga gives five acres of land in Kisumu to support low-cost housing.
- President Ruto praises the gesture during the launch of a new housing project.
- Ruto begins his Nyanza visit, expected to unveil more developments.
- Raila defends the Affordable Housing idea as originally part of Azimio’s manifesto.
- He urges the government to plan better and involve communities in the process.
During a public address in Kisumu on Thursday, May 29, President William Ruto announced that Azimio leader Raila Odinga had offered five acres of land for the construction of low-cost houses. While launching the new project, Ruto said the land will be used to put up 750 housing units under the Affordable Housing Programme.
“I came to Kisumu today with Raila to roll out another housing development. He gave us five acres to help build homes that will benefit local families. On behalf of the government, I sincerely thank him,” Ruto told residents.
This symbolic act comes just as the President began his official tour of the Nyanza region, which includes several project launches in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties. The tour will also see him preside over the upcoming Madaraka Day celebrations.
Raila Pushes for Inclusive and Practical Housing Approach
Despite supporting the general idea, Raila Odinga has been vocal about how the Kenya Kwanza government is handling the Affordable Housing initiative. In a February 4 interview, Raila stated that the programme originally belonged to Azimio and was featured in their manifesto before it was “borrowed” by Ruto’s team.
“Affordable Housing is not a bad thing. We had it in our Azimio manifesto. It’s good they saw value in it, but the government must engage Kenyans and implement it correctly,” Raila said.
He pointed out gaps in the rollout plan, especially the lack of proper arrangements for people affected by the construction. Raila also faulted the use of identical house designs in every location, noting that housing needs differ from region to region.
“It can’t be one-size-fits-all. In some places, bungalows make more sense. Elsewhere, people can provide land or labour while the government supplies materials. It should be a partnership. People must understand how the programme benefits them before it’s forced on them,” he added.
Raila stressed the need for public involvement, diversity in construction designs, and fairness in planning. He said these elements are key if the housing plan is to succeed and help communities.
