Affordable housing, river cleanups top Ruto’s agenda for Nairobi

President William Ruto has pledged to make Nairobi great through better services.

Water provision, clean rivers and better healthcare services top his agenda of making Nairobi the Green City in the Sun.

This was revealed after a meeting with Kenya Kwanza MCAs at State House on Wednesday.

South B MCA Waithera Chege said the Kenya Kwanza government aims to set up at least 5,000 low cost housing units in partnership with the Nairobi government.

"This will be done where county-owned houses were built as Nairobi has few free land," she said.

The legislator spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony in Nairobi on Saturday.

She however said South B’s Mariakani estate will be exempted as it is now controlled and managed by the Local Authorities Pension Fund.

"South B could have benefited but Mariakani estate was swapped between City Hall and lapfund due to arrears. But if we get space, South B will get the low cost houses,” Chege said.

Clean up of the Nairobi River is also a top priority in Ruto’s agenda for the city.

Chege said the President is keen on climate change and his priority is to clean river banks in Nairobi.

After the clean-up of wards, which the Ngong and Nairobi Rivers pass through, the government will set up an innovation centre to promote youth talents and creativity.

This will also help curb unemployment among youths.

The President also pledged to complete all stalled water projects.

During his campaigns, Ruto had assured city residents that water problems will be a thing of the past if he takes the top office.

"I know water is a problem in Nairobi but my government, God willing, will complete the Northern Collector Tunnel and Nairobi, Ruiru II projects, which will benefit the whole city," Ruto said.

Nairobi's current water demand is 790,000 cubic metres per day against a capacity of 526,000 cubic meters per day, supplied from Ndakaini Dam.

This leaves a shortage of 264,000 cubic metres per day.

The shortage is projected to worsen with the Nairobi Water Master Plan showing the city will require 1.2 billion litres of water daily by 2035.

The collector tunnel, a World Bank-funded initiative, was launched in September 18, 2012 at a cost of Sh20 billion but has not been completed up to date.

The project will increase water supply to Nairobi by 140 million litres per day, upon completion.

This will boost supply to an additional 1.2 million city residents.

Chege said water kiosks will also be set up in the informal settlements of South B, to boost access to the basic need.

She however, cautioned cartels against taking advantage and selling the water tanks and water to residents.

"The water is free of charge and no one should charge you,” Chege said.

The legislator said when she got into office the water distribution was 25 per cent, by 2022 before election it was 75 per cent.

She also said the President agreed with the ward representatives that each of the 85 wards will have two garbage trucks.

The second term MCA said there will be temporary dumping sites where all the wards garbage will be placed, awaiting collection by the trucks.

“With the set up of the temporary sites, anyone including traders and residents found dumping garbage illegally will face the law,” she said.

Chege further said in the state house meeting, Ruto reminded the legislators of his plan to construct at least 20 markets for mama mbogas and hawkers.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)