Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has openly challenged President William Ruto’s affordable housing initiative, raising concerns about its accessibility for young Kenyans injured in police crackdowns.
Speaking at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kiminini, Sifuna highlighted the contradiction between the government’s multi-storey housing projects and the ongoing violence faced by youths protesting these developments.
Linking State Violence to Housing Projects
Sifuna questioned how youths who have been shot and wounded by police can realistically benefit from the new 12-storey buildings being constructed under the affordable housing scheme.
“How can he put up a 12-storey building in the village and then instruct the police to shoot us in the leg? How are we supposed to access the buildings? How will we access a storey building with bullets lodged in our legs?” he asked the crowd.
The senator condemned the government’s approach of injuring protesters, pointing out that President Ruto had previously directed police to shoot those damaging property in the legs, resulting in hospitalisation and legal action against the victims.
Opposition’s Stance and Rally Support
Sifuna rejected claims that the opposition is against development, insisting that the safety and wellbeing of Kenya’s youth should take precedence over infrastructure projects.
“We do not hate William Ruto. It is he who hates the youth,” Sifuna stated, emphasizing that his movement supports building roads, hospitals, and stadiums but opposes violence against young people.
The Kiminini rally drew thousands of supporters who also contributed financially to the Linda Mwananchi movement’s campaign efforts ahead of the 2027 General Election. The movement positions itself as a democratic alternative advocating for accountability and civil liberties.
