President William Ruto has revealed that the late Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ngeno will feature prominently in his future memoirs for his role in advancing the government’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Speaking emotionally during a visit to Ngeno’s home area, the President described the housing initiative as one of the most difficult assignments he has undertaken since assuming office, saying it tested both his resilience and leadership. He noted that when he was constituting parliamentary committees, he deliberately selected Ngeno to chair the Housing Committee because of his determination and firmness.
“I settled on Ngeno because I knew if I persuaded him to do it, there would be no looking back,” Ruto said.
The President disclosed that several leaders had privately advised him to abandon the housing programme, warning that it would be politically costly and unpopular. However, he said Ngeno never wavered in his support.
“Many people came to me and told me, ‘Mr President, you should drop this thing. It will make you unpopular.’ Of all the people who came to see me, Ngeno did not,” he said, recalling how the late MP assured him that the project was the right course for the country.
Ruto stated that members of the Housing Committee faced hostility and public backlash as they defended the programme across different parts of the country, adding that they were heckled and criticised while pushing for its implementation.
Despite the initial resistance, the President observed that attitudes have since shifted, with many Members of Parliament now requesting additional housing units, markets and hostels in their constituencies.
“There is no Member of Parliament here who is not telling me, ‘We want more housing in our area,’” he remarked.
The President described the Affordable Housing Programme as the most consequential undertaking of his administration, revealing that contracts worth Sh650 billion have so far been signed. He emphasised that the funds are generated locally and not borrowed, and added that the construction sector has recorded significant growth, boosting its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Ruto credited Parliament for enacting the legislation and regulations that provided the legal framework for the housing programme, saying the transformation would not have been possible without lawmakers’ support.
In his final tribute, the President reiterated that Johana Ngeno would forever be remembered as a central pillar in Kenya’s housing transformation, declaring that when he eventually writes his memoirs, Ngeno and the Housing Committee will have a dedicated chapter.
