Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has continued his criticism of President William Ruto‘s administration, months after he was removed from office through an impeachment motion. Gachagua now claims that the affordable housing program, one of Ruto’s flagship initiatives since he took office in 2022, is designed to benefit senior government officials.
He made these remarks while accusing the government of “making decisions driven not by national interest, but by the business interests of people within the government”.
In an interview on December 29 in Kakamega, the former Deputy President alleged that senior government officials own shares in an unnamed company that manufactures cement, steel, and iron sheets.
“You have seen the things that are going on in the housing sector, you have seen the housing program. That housing program has nothing to do with houses for the people of Kenya, it is about business. Very senior people in government have shares in that company which manufactures cement, steel and iron sheets and that is why the government wants this housing program to go on. That is why there is the housing levy to get enough money,” the former Mathira Member of Parliament claimed.
Gachagua added that those in charge of the housing department are forcing contractors to sign subcontracts with the unnamed company for the supply of building materials.
“The people in the housing department force the contractors to sign a subcontract for supply of cement, steel and iron sheets with a company where very senior people in this government have shares. That is why the housing program is being forced down the throat of Kenyans,” he added.
Gachagua pokes holes in affordable housing program
At the same time, the former Deputy President blamed the government’s move to support local clinker manufacturing for the rise in cement prices in the country.
Also Read: Do You Have Ksh2 Million? Govt Starts Selling Affordable Houses at Throwaway Prices
He further alleged that senior government officials hold shares in an unnamed clinker manufacturing company, claiming that this was the reason the government prioritized local cement production over importation.
“That is why when you look at clinker, it was being imported, and cement was retailing at Ksh600. Because of conflict of interest, senior officials in this administration have shares in a company that is manufacturing clinker and therefore they stopped the importation of clinker and said that it will be manufactured here locally,” Gachagua said.
“As a result, the prices of cement shot from Ksh600 to Ksh900. That Ksh300 people in government are having a share of it. So, you find decisions are being made not on national interest but because of business interest by people in the government.”
Change of tune
However, Gachagua’s remarks seem to contradict his earlier stance on the affordable housing program earlier this year when he was still serving as Deputy President.
The former DP was a staunch supporter of the program and often accompanied President Ruto to launch projects across the country.
“The Affordable Housing Project is making a huge positive impact on the ground with thousands of jobs, business opportunities created on top of raising the prospects of decent shelter for our people. As intended by the Ruto Administration, this multi-billion project is greatly beneficial to the Jua Kali artisans and skilled youths in the informal sector,” Gachagua said in a statement on April 16 in Embu.
His latest remarks on the affordable housing program come after President Ruto announced the completion of 4,888 affordable housing units across the country.
While delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on November 21, the Head of State indicated that the government would now begin selling the housing units.
He specified that the completed units included single-room and one-bedroom houses.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards providing decent and affordable housing for all. After two years of hard work under the affordable housing program, I am proud to announce the launch of the sale of 4,888 housing units now in completion, across 21 social housing projects,” he said.
Clinker manufacturing company commissioned
Earlier in the year, President Ruto opened the Cemtech Factory for cement manufacturing in West Pokot saying it would boost the county’s infrastructure.
Also Read: Ruto Moves Multi-Billion Project to His Office
The head of state said that the plant aims at producing 6,000 metric tons of cement daily, boosting its annual capacity to 2 million tons thereby growing its outreach to meet the needs of East Africa.
Ruto emphasized that the construction of the cement factory would have of great economic impact on the country citing the creation of job opportunities for over 2,500 residents of West Pokot directly and indirectly.
He also noted that there will be a reduction in the price of cement that will facilitate the housing units to cater for manpower for 3,000 people working in the Pokot south housing program.
“For the last six years manufacturing has come down from 9 pc of GDP to 7.2 percent, our plan is to take it to 20 pc of GDP, and it will not go there through miracles but through investment,” President Ruto said.
The factory is owned by Cemtech Limited (parent company), a subsidiary of Devki Group.
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