Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has lashed out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his criticism of government-funded projects in the country.
This comes days after Gachagua claimed that the affordable housing program, one of President William Ruto’s flagship initiatives since he took office in 2022, is designed to benefit senior government officials.
Speaking in Machakos on Wednesday, January 29 after inspecting the progress of affordable housing projects, CS Wahome pointed out that Gachagua was part of the government during the planning and implementation of several projects.
She recalled how Gachagua championed and launched some of the projects before being ousted from the government, urging the former DP to be candid about the projects.
“He has forgotten that he has launched some of these projects himself, alone or jointly with the President and he was our champion. Were his eyes closed at that time?
Let us be candid even at that high level. I want to urge the former Deputy President respectfully to be candid and tell Kenyans that here, I am employing 160,000 people (youth), that the cement industry is benefitting from this, and we have shopped throughout the country,” said Wahome.
Wahome ropes in EACC
The CS at the same time challenged Gachagua to substantiate his claims that her ministry is involved in illegal contracts and urged him to report such information to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for investigation.
Also Read: Kindiki Deconstructs Gachagua in a Scathing Attack
She emphasized that the project has created numerous job opportunities for Kenyans, and that the procurement process has been transparent, and the project received government approval.
“These are contractors that we give this work, where is the President coming in construction of our houses? The procurement process is public. So, for somebody the level of my former Deputy President to tell Kenyans that there is somewhere my ministry is sitting behind the scenes and making some illegal contracts, I would want him to tell the EACC where that is and who happens to be there, “Wahome stated.
“Gachagua, you’re promising bad leadership. You’re now losing it.”
The CS instead called on the former DP to rethink his political strategy instead of misleading Kenyans and tarnishing the image of government projects.
CS defends affordable housing projects
In Machakos, where the government has reportedly completed 220 units, Wahome dismissed claims that the rooms are small, stating that they are intended for the target group living in deplorable conditions.
She hence urged Kenyans not to listen to the naysayers, noting that the release of the houses to the public is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, with 4,000 units expected to be handed over.
Wahome made the remarks after Gachagua accused President Ruto of “making decisions driven not by national interest, but by the business interests of people within the government”.
Gachagua on Monday, January 27, during the unveiling of DAP Party’s new headquarters in Nairobi claimed that “some of Kenya’s biggest names” are behind unnamed companies which he alleged are involved in the affordable housing projects.
The former Deputy President alleged that senior government officials own shares in an unnamed company that manufactures cement, steel, and iron sheets.
Gachagua pokes holes in affordable housing projects
He 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.
“We initially believed the President that the project was about job creation, you know, a lot of English and talk,” Gachagua, who during his DP days hailed the initiative as “greatly beneficial” to artisans and skilled youths,” he said.
Gachagua added, “Until it came to my attention that it has nothing to do with that; it is a business. If you want to construct the houses, you have to sign a sub-contract from the Housing Principal Secretary with the company to sell you cement, metal and roofing sheets.”
Also Read: Gachagua Exposes Senior Govt Officials Gaining from Affordable Housing Program
Referring to some of the grounds listed in his ouster motion, the former second in command said, “This housing levy is to make sure the construction is going on so they can sell construction materials; that is what the President accused me of not understanding and being incompetent.”
Affordable housing program
President Ruto’s government – which Gachagua served in for two years before impeachment last October – introduced the controversial project, saying it was to address poor Kenyans’ housing deficit and give thousands of youth job opportunities.
It has seen salaried Kenyans part with 1.5 per cent of their pay, matched by employers, since 2023.
Ruto while delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on November 21, announced the completion of 4,888 affordable housing units across the country.
The Head of State indicated that the government would now begin selling the housing units and specified that the completed units included single-room and one-bedroom houses.
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