President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s affordable housing initiative, stating that the country has shown that people living in informal settlements can move into modern high-rises without facing higher living costs.
Speaking at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 18, President Ruto highlighted that Kenya had begun replacing Nairobi’s informal settlements with organised, modern homes under its Affordable Housing Programme.
“We have begun the journey of reversing slum growth. In fact, in the city of Nairobi, we have started to remove slums to replace them with decent housing,” said Ruto.
The remarks by the Head of State were made in response to concerns raised during the forum regarding whether residents from informal settlements could successfully transition to high-rise living.
“I am giving the Kenyan perspective because I heard my sister, Sarah, from my neighbouring country in Uganda. She made a very fundamental statement. She was just wondering how it is possible for a person in a slum to be able to live in a skyscraper on the 11th floor. Let me tell Sarah it is possible. We have done it in Kenya,” said Ruto.
The president highlighted that the cost of a modern social housing unit on the 11th floor is identical to that of a slum dwelling. According to President Ruto, residents who previously paid $40 to live in informal settlements are now paying the same amount for an apartment on the 11th floor.
“The cost of a social house on the 11th floor is the same as the cost of a slum dwelling house. They used to pay 40 dollars; they now pay 40 dollars on the 11th floor,” said President Ruto.
ALSO READ:
Ruto reaffirms affordable housing agenda at World Urban Forum in Baku
Ruto highlighted the continent’s rapid demographic shift, noting that Africa will house 25 per cent of the global population by 2050. In light of this, he argued that securing adequate housing is no longer just important; it is an immediate global urgency as it will determine what the world looks like in the future.
“If there is a place where housing is important and urgent, it is our continent, because that is where a quarter of the world population will be living, and 70 per cent of that population will be living in urban centres, and therefore housing becomes a central pillar of how the world looks like in the future,” said the Head of State.
President Ruto called for the reform of international financial institutions and the United Nations Security Council, emphasising that these changes are necessary to ensure Africa is properly represented in global decision-making.
By Frank Mugwe
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
