Ruto: Sifuna ni fala anataka tusimamishe mradi wa Affordable Housing

President William Ruto stood before crowds in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and branded Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna a fool for seeking to halt the national Affordable Housing drive along with its fund and levy.

Ruto argued the scheme employs thousands of young Kenyans and asked where those workers would go if construction stopped. The sharp attack came during a rain-soaked public tour that also targeted former President Uhuru Kenyatta as an alleged opposition backer.

Rain poured across Eldoret streets, yet the president pressed on. He climbed atop a vehicle and spoke without cover. Workers at a nearby construction site heard him too. He wore a safety helmet and kept talking. The moment carried heat. Ruto pointed straight at Sifuna.

He declared the senator a fool who wants the entire project shut down. Housing fund collections and the housing levy itself sat in the crosshairs of that charge. Young builders listened closely. Their jobs hung in the balance, according to the president.

He asked the open question that hung in the wet air. Where will all these youths go if the sites fall silent? The answer he offered carried force. The program must continue. Jobs for the young remain the priority.

Construction crews across Uasin Gishu and beyond depend on the steady flow of work. Ruto framed the choice as clear. Keep building or leave the young without options.

The clash builds on earlier friction. In July 2026, Sifuna questioned high-rise designs in places like Funyula. He asked how chickens kept by Luhya families would reach upper floors.

Ruto dismissed that view at the time as empty. He called such critics brainless then and returned to the theme this week. The latest remarks add fresh intensity as the 2027 election season draws nearer.

Why Does President Ruto Defend Affordable Housing Against Critics

President Ruto defends the program because it generates employment for hundreds of thousands of young Kenyans while addressing a national shortage of nearly 2.5 million housing units. He told residents in Maili Nne Huruma and Eldoret City that the work forms part of a broader development push.

Modern markets rise alongside the homes. One of those markets, the Champions Retail Market in Eldoret, forms part of 14 such facilities planned for the county alone. Nationwide the government aims for 600 modern markets to give traders safer spaces.

Workers on the sites already number in the tens of thousands, according to earlier government tallies that placed total construction employment near 500,000. Ruto reminded the young people present that more tasks wait after current phases finish.

He wants the effort stretched across two decades so that Kenya turns into a continuous construction zone. The housing levy of 1.5 percent on salaries supplies the revolving fund that keeps new units coming. Buyers pay for completed homes, and that money circles back into further builds. Ruto explained during the Eldoret stop that the arrangement continues until every citizen has a place.

Critics challenge the levy as an added burden on salaried workers. Court petitions have sought to suspend collections and questioned whether contributors receive fair benefit.

Transparency International assessments in mid-2026 flagged corruption risks reaching 71 percent on certain projects due to gaps in documentation and procurement. The auditor general reviews found that 269 of 394 ongoing housing and infrastructure projects lacked complete land ownership papers. Ruto brushed those concerns aside in his public remarks. He insisted the projects deliver dignity and jobs that opponents overlook.

What Role Do Young Workers Play in the Housing Program

Young workers form the backbone of the Affordable Housing effort, and Ruto insists their employment justifies continued expansion. In Eldoret, he spoke directly to the crews at the site. He urged them to ready themselves for additional assignments once present phases wrap up.

Earlier statements from the administration placed contracts worth 600 billion shillings in the hands of Kenyan companies. Cement production and construction sector growth of 6.8 percent in 2025 tracked the program closely.

The president linked the housing drive to other commitments. He toured schools in Uasin Gishu the same day, including AIC Kamagut Junior School and AIC Kamoret High School.

New tuition blocks and church facilities under construction showed parallel investment. He told the crowd that education access expands so every child gains opportunity. The same logic applies to homes. Young people need both work and places to live according to his framing.

Sifuna has positioned himself as a vocal critic through the Linda Mwananchi platform. Polls in July 2026 placed him among stronger opposition figures. Ruto responded by accusing former President Uhuru Kenyatta of sponsoring such voices.

He asked whether that sponsor had succeeded with affordable housing, universal health coverage, or education during his term. The answer he offered was no. He claimed the former leader now sends proxies to compete against him. Those proxies lack plans, agendas, or sense in his view.

Public reaction on social platforms spread the Eldoret comments rapidly. Clips of Ruto calling Sifuna a fool circulated within hours. Supporters praised the direct language. Others saw escalation ahead of the next general election.

The president maintained that development must reach places where people live and work. Markets in Eldoret and beyond aim to give Mama Mboga traders decent conditions. Housing units seek the same outcome for families currently in informal settlements.

Data from the Boma Yangu platform shows registered users climbing past 1.26 million with savings more than doubling in recent periods. Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has argued that much of the reported refunds actually represent completed purchases rather than exits.

Ruto used the Eldoret platform to reinforce that narrative. Progress continues despite the rain and the political noise. Sites keep operating. Workers keep their tools in hand.

The broader picture includes donor funding reductions of 800 million shillings in the 2025-2026 supplementary budget. Treasury delays on 25 billion shillings held in short-term bills have raised further questions.

Ruto did not address those figures in the public address. He focused instead on the human element. Young builders need the work. Families need the homes. The housing levy and fund remain the tools he chooses to deliver both.