Digital strategist Pauline Njoroge has come to the defence of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna after his remarks about affordable housing and chicken rearing in Western Kenya sparked controversy.
Njoroge argued that critics focused narrowly on Sifuna’s mention of chickens, missing the broader point about adapting development projects to the unique needs of different communities.
Context Behind the Remarks
The Nairobi senator had highlighted the importance of prioritizing basic services such as healthcare and education before pushing large-scale housing projects. He questioned the practicality of implementing high-rise affordable housing in rural areas where livelihoods often depend on small-scale farming and poultry keeping.
President William Ruto responded sharply to Sifuna’s comments, accusing opposition leaders of lacking a coherent agenda and warning that electing them would be detrimental to Kenya.
Tailored Development Over Uniform Solutions
According to Njoroge, Sifuna’s reference to chickens was metaphorical, illustrating that development should be people-centered rather than uniform across the country.
- Different regions have distinct social, economic, and cultural priorities.
- Western Kenya communities often rely on land ownership and small-scale farming for their livelihoods.
- Projects should address local needs such as roads, water, affordable farm inputs, healthcare, and jobs rather than imposing generic housing models.
She emphasized that leadership involves listening to communities and investing in initiatives that genuinely improve lives, not just pushing politically convenient projects.
Using Parables to Illustrate a Point
Njoroge likened Sifuna’s remarks to biblical parables, where the literal mention of chickens was a device to communicate a deeper message about context-sensitive development.
“Jesus often spoke in parables, but only the wise understood the message. In our case, the chicken was the parable. The message was about people-centred development,” she said.
