United Opposition spokesperson Mukhisa Kituyi has criticized the Ruto administration’s housing programs, describing them as poorly planned, commercially driven, and detached from the realities of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday, Kituyi said the government’s high-rise projects labeled as “affordable housing” fail to meet the practical needs and living patterns of citizens, particularly in rural areas.
“We replace it with a rationalized management of affordable housing provision, and that was already underway through a national housing scheme, which is not tax people collectively and reward selectively as Ruto's housing thing is,” Kituyi said, stressing that previous national housing initiatives were better structured to ensure fairness and efficiency.
He argued that instead of improving existing programs that had been carefully designed over time, the Ruto administration discarded them in favor of expensive and ill-conceived high-rise projects.
“Instead of improving on an existing program that has taken thought, experience, and a lot of time to mold, they throw it away and replace it with something very, very thought out, very, very expensive and very irrational,” he said.
Kituyi added that the current approach seems driven by commercial interests—promoting cement, steel, and construction materials—rather than prioritizing citizens’ actual housing needs.
He drew comparisons with international examples, noting that successful affordable housing models take into account people’s lifestyles and local conditions.
“If you go to Ethiopia or Canada, you’ll see how affordable housing is designed to fit the rhythm of people’s lives. You don’t just think about high-rise buildings and steel; you think about where people live, their daily needs, and how to make decent living consistent with their lifestyle,” he said.
Kituyi emphasized that reversing these mistakes is critical but insufficient on its own. He called for a comprehensive, citizen-focused housing strategy as part of a broader alternative government agenda that addresses governance, macroeconomic policy, and public service reform.
He also stressed the importance of inclusivity in shaping policies, particularly by engaging Kenya’s younger generation.
“The high-rise ‘affordable housing’ projects are detached from reality and will not serve ordinary citizens. We need a rational plan that avoids blanket taxation and prevents selective benefits, ensuring housing programs truly meet people’s needs,” he said.
The opposition spokesperson’s comments come amid growing public concern over the cost, feasibility, and social relevance of current government housing projects, which critics say favor urban elites over everyday Kenyans.
