President William Ruto has ordered the eviction of people who have annexed government’s land in Kiambu County.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of Thika–Magumu Road, Ruto said the government plans to use the land to build affordable houses for Kenyans.
“We want to build houses for citizens at an affordable cost. We want to remove slums so that every citizen can stay at a respectable place where they can afford,” Ruto said.
“Governor Wamatangi, county government and regional commissioner, all those people who are sitting on government lands where we want to build affordable houses should be evicted immediately.”
This comes after Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi recently said his county has been facing challenges in providing basic social amenities due to massive land-grabbing.
He claimed individuals who are behind land grabbing have been working with area leaders to sabotage his development agenda.
“In a local paper this coming Thursday, I have published a public notice of about seven pages, listing over 3,000 properties in Kiambu with their title deeds and plot numbers. I am requesting every property owner to present their valid land certificates,” he said.
Ruto said the government is planning to build 10,000 house units in Kiambu starting in December.
"I’ll be back in December to start the construction of 10,000 affordable houses," Ruto said.
"We want to reduce the cost of those houses whose rent is Sh20,000. We will reduce the cost to around Sh6000 or Sh5000 and you can also pay a mortgage for that house then after 15 or 20 years, that house becomes yours."
He urged the youths in Kiambu to view the Housing project as an opportunity to get jobs.
“We need around 20,000 youths starting in December who will build those houses. That is our plan because we want to make sure our youths get employment opportunities to cater for themselves and their families,” Ruto said.
During the inspection of the 67-Kilometre Thika-Magumu road at the Kamwangi trading centre in Gatundu North, the President said the road will serve both Kiambu and Nyandarua residents improving access to agricultural and industrial products within the Counties.
“The road is also a bypass that will reduce congestion in Nairobi City,” he said.
He added that the government has invested heavily in the construction, rehabilitation and modernisation of roads across the country, especially in rural and marginalised areas.
He affirmed that those projects will ease transport costs, facilitate mobility, boost the competitiveness of the country's economy and help transform livelihoods.