By Jabali Digital
President William Ruto briefly turned into an intercessor, praying for Kenyans contributing to the housing levy.
The housing levy was introduced for Kenyans in formal employment in 2023, with the employer and employee contributing 1.5 percent of the employee’s salary each month, to help the government put up affordable housing units across the country.
During the handover ceremony of keys to 1,080 social housing units in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums on Tuesday, President Ruto prayed for Kenyans who relentlessly support the program by contributing to the housing levy.
“I will pray for you and your new houses. Let us pray,” the president said, before praying for over 3 minutes.
“We pray for Kenyans contributing to the housing levy. May you bless them; bless the work of their hands for them to continue contributing so that we continue building for Kenyans to live in good places,” prayed the head of State.
He also prayed for peaceful coexistence among those taking up the new houses.
Ruto termed the handing over of the key as the most important day of his political career – spanning more than 26 years.
“This is the most consequential day in my political career. We have handed over keys to life-changing 1,080 social housing units; these are not keys to open doors or houses; these are keys to homes,” he stated.
The 1,080 homes, he said, are part of the transformative 13,248-unit new Mukuru Housing Estate, the largest real estate site in Kenya’s history.
“In these homes, we are providing better sanitation, security and livelihoods to thousands of ordinary people who would never have had such a chance,” said Ruto.
The new Mukuru housing estate. Photo/PCS
He referred to the estate as the turning point in the Kenya Kwanza’s grand agenda to offer decent homes to our citizens, especially those at the bottom of the wealth pyramid.
Mukuru, he said, is just the beginning, adding, “We have more than 200 such projects in various stages of completion across the country, employing more than 200,000 young people.”
He promised to continue making more bold and difficult decisions, geared towards changing Kenya forever and for the better.