Ruto To Pay Rent For These Nairobi Residents For 2 Years, Explains Why

President William Ruto has promised residents of Bahati in Nairobi that they would not be evicted owing to the affordable houses projected to be constructed in the area.

Speaking on Sunday, March 24 during a Palm Sunday service at ACK Emmanuel Church Bahati, Makadara, Ruto revealed that his government would instead cover the rental costs for the residents for two years.

He explained why the Bahati residents needed to be relocated to pave the way for the 8,000 housing units set to be constructed under the Affordable Housing Programme.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja accompanies President William Ruto for a Sunday service at ACK Emmanuel Church Bahati, Makadara, on March 24, 2024. /PCS

"There will be no eviction, every Kenyan will be given a place to stay as you wait for the houses to be built. That is our job," Ruto promised.

"We will give you money for two years so that you can rent a place, when we complete the houses, you can go back to your house."

Ruto noted that the process would commence at the end of the year and be completed within the two-year timeframe.

The President added that the two years rent would be paid in a lump sum with the residents being given cash to rent the houses. However, he did not specify how much in cash the residents would get.

Initially, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had noted that the residents unlike other Kenyans would not be asked to pay for the new housing units, adding that the government was cognizant of the fact that the residents had stayed in county-owned houses for years. 

“We are not giving out the houses for free. We will consider the years the residents have been paying rent as a mortgage,” he explained. 

Ruto on his part reiterated that the entire process was voluntary, adding that other Kenyans who live in informal settlements such as slums would be moved to proper housing units under the programme.

"We will ensure that the 4,000 people living here go back to their houses, and likewise many other Kenyans who don't have a place to stay or are living in deplorable conditions where there is no sewage nor water, power, proper road networks...they live in slums.

"We want to ensure that those living in the slums we relocate them to good houses in the estates," he added.

The President is aiming to construct 200,000 housing units every year within a span of five years.