President William Ruto has reaffirmed the importance of housing in the Kenya Kwanza government's agenda, emphasising its potential to create jobs, eliminate slums, and safeguard the country's agricultural land.
In preparation for Mashujaa Day on October 20, which will be themed around housing, the president held a strategic meeting at State House, Nairobi, with key stakeholders in the housing sector.
The gathering included architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, bankers, manufacturers, industrialists, and Jua Kali representatives. Their discussions centered on advancing Kenya's housing agenda as part of a long-term strategy for national development.
"Housing remains a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto as it promises to create jobs, eliminate slums, and protect our agricultural land from unnecessary sub-division that may create food insecurity," President Ruto said.
With the Mashujaa Day celebrations just weeks away, President Ruto's government is expected to outline significant plans to accelerate housing development as part of a broader vision to improve urbanization and economic growth across the country.
The housing agenda, closely linked to job creation and food security, aims to address Kenya's growing population by building sustainable communities and improving living conditions in urban centers.
President Ruto stressed the role of housing in protecting agricultural land from sub-division, which has been a concern in light of food security challenges.
The president's administration has identified poor urban planning and expanding slums as threats to both food production and rural economies. By focusing on structured housing developments, the government hopes to strike a balance between urbanisation and agricultural preservation.
As Kenya prepares for the Mashujaa Day celebrations, the housing agenda remains a key part of President Ruto's broader vision for economic development and social transformation, with the government poised to present concrete measures to enhance housing access for all citizens.