“March 11, 2025
President William Ruto has reiterated the government’s strong commitment to eliminating the squalor and challenges of slums through the Affordable Housing Programme in cities and towns across Kenya.
Despite opposition from some political figures, the President affirmed that the initiative will continue without interruption. He emphasized that the programme is not only creating jobs but also offering decent housing for those living in informal settlements.
“It’s hard to understand why some leaders oppose a project that has created jobs for many young people and enables them to own homes in a dignified environment,” he remarked.
Speaking to residents at Mabatini grounds in Mathare Constituency during the second day of his Nairobi County tour, President Ruto highlighted that real change in Kenya would only come through bold and effective policies.
He assured the people of Mathare that the slums in the area would eventually be transformed into proper housing.
“I want to assure the people of Mathare that slums will become a thing of the past, and soon, they will own and live in decent homes,” he stated.
Regarding his recent agreement with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President Ruto said it would promote national unity without favoring any particular community or region.
“In our pursuit of national unity, no community, religion, or region will be left behind in development,” he stated.
He emphasized that Kenya must never again fall victim to divisive tribal politics, and he, along with other like-minded leaders, would work tirelessly to unite the country.
“We don’t want to see any more tribal or discriminatory politics. We are dedicated to uniting all Kenyans and building a prosperous nation for everyone,” he affirmed.
On administrative matters, President Ruto announced the creation of additional administrative units across the country to improve service delivery.
During the commissioning of the Deputy County Commissioner’s Office in Ruaraka, he emphasized the role of National Government Administration officers in driving national development.
“We will ensure these officers have the support needed to provide strong leadership and accelerate Kenya’s transformation,” the President said.
In terms of education, President Ruto outlined government efforts to expand and modernize schools, particularly in marginalized and densely populated areas, to promote equality.
At St. Teresa’s Girls Secondary School in Mathare, he pledged to build 10 additional classrooms to accommodate more students. Additionally, he promised to purchase a chapati-making machine to support Nairobi County’s school feeding programme.
The President also broke ground for the construction of Mabatini Primary School and Mathare Vocational Training College. In his remarks at the vocational college, he emphasized the importance of equipping young people with skills to contribute to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
He further inspected the construction of new classrooms at Mathare Mixed Secondary School.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Governor Johnson Sakaja, and Nairobi MPs, who accompanied the President, called for unity and collaborative efforts to address the nation’s challenges.”