Ruto Hits Back at Sifuna Over Affordable Houses for Police Officers

President William Ruto has responded to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over his promise to allocate affordable housing units to police officers if the Linda Mwananchi administration takes power in 2027.

Sifuna said that once Linda Mwananchi takes over the government, every police officer in the country will be entitled to a house under the Affordable Housing Programme.

“Once we take over government as Linda Mwananchi, we will give these affordable houses built by Ruto to the police officers so they can live in them,” Sifuna stated.

However, while responding to the Nairobi senator on Monday, President Ruto said Sifuna was unaware that the government had already allocated more than 20,000 affordable housing units to police officers.

Speaking at Jacaranda Grounds on Sunday, September 13, Sifuna linked the pledge to the security role played by police officers. He also described Nairobi’s slums as an income problem rather than simply a shortage of housing.

The following day, while in Kisumu, Ruto revealed that 20,000 housing units had already been allocated to police officers. He also dismissed the opposition, arguing that it lacked a clear plan for addressing the country’s housing needs.

The President further defended the Affordable Housing Programme, saying it had created more than 640,000 jobs and facilitated the construction of thousands of homes since its launch in late 2022.

“Let me give you facts. We have already allocated 20,000 houses to the police. We are far ahead. You don’t understand anything. You have no capacity to discuss housing because you have no plan, agenda or programme. Go and discuss other issues,” Ruto hit back.

The exchange has sparked mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans welcoming the focus on police welfare while others questioned whether levy-funded affordable housing units should be redirected to specific groups.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, affordable housing is increasingly emerging as one of the key issues likely to feature in the political contest.