Kenya: Ruto Calls Sifuna, Linda Mwananchi Team 'Fools' Over Housing

What the report says

President William Ruto has criticized leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over their comments on Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme, after they suggested some of the units should go to police officers. In remarks reported by Capital FM and carried by AllAfrica, Ruto spoke in Kisumu during the second day of his five-day tour of Nyanza, saying the government already has a plan to build housing for police and that the proposal reflected a lack of understanding of the programme.

According to the report, Sifuna had raised the issue a day earlier at a rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi, arguing that police officers should have decent and affordable homes because of their role in security. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also praised the police’s handling of opposition supporters’ convoy in Nairobi. Ruto responded by defending the housing initiative and rejecting claims that it was not addressing the needs of ordinary citizens.

The president said the programme is tied to wider job creation, markets and hostels projects, and cited planned housing and related developments in Kisumu County. The article also notes that Sifuna has questioned whether the housing drive is reducing Nairobi informal settlements, while the government maintains the scheme is aimed at low- and middle-income households and is financed through the housing levy. The exchange underscores the political debate over how Kenya’s housing policy should be implemented and who should benefit first.