President Ruto: Affordable housing programme key to curbing farmland fragmentation

It was to ensure that agricultural production and productivity remains sustainable, the President explained, that the government is implementing the Affordable Housing Programme to combat the increasing land fragmentation.

Speaking at Mabera grounds in Kuria West Constituency, Migori County, on Monday, when he handed keys to new owners of 60 affordable houses, he pointed out that people living in the rural should increasingly take up residence in affordable housing to preserve farmland for food production.

"The Affordable Housing Programme, especially in rural areas, will greatly help  reduce land fragmentation and ensure enhanced farming activities," President Ruto said. 

At the same time, he warned of stern action against parents who do not take children to school, saying they were depriving them right to education. 

The President directed National Government Administration Officers to work closely with police and arrest parents whose children were out of class.

President Ruto noted that the government spends more than KSh700 billion annually on education to ensure Kenya's human capital remains the country’s greatest asset.

"We want every child in Kenya to be in school because education is the greatest equaliser," he said. 

He regretted that many children of school-going age, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, are herding goats and cattle when their agemates in other parts of the country are in class.

“I am direct chiefs to ensure all parents in their jurisdictions send children to school," he said. 

The President also laid the foundation stone for the Mabera Modern Market in Kuria West Constituency. 

And while opening Piny-Owacho Level 3 Hospital in Uriri Constituency, Migori County, the President said the government will fully equip the facility with medical supplies and provide the required health staff. 

He urged residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to benefit from the government’s health insurance. 

"We ask everyone in the country to register with SHA so as to benefit from the universal healthcare services instead of selling land and other assets to pay hospital bills," he said. 

In the past year, he announced, SHA has paid hospitals in Migori County KSh2.4 billion for services offered.

On other development programmes, he pointed out that the government has allocated Migori County KSh28 billion for affordable housing, modern markets and hostels for university and college and university students. 

He also said KSh2.3 billion is being used to connect power to households in the county. 

On politics, President Ruto lambasted leaders who have specialised in the politics of exclusion and ethnicity, saying they such undermine national cohesion and unity. 

"We will not allow politics of exclusion and division. Leaders should promote their agenda instead of empty ethnic rhetoric," President Ruto said. 

Earlier, the President inspected construction works at Kegonga Sub-County Hospital in Kuria East Constituency, Migori County, a KSh345 million investment aimed at enhancing access to quality universal healthcare. 

"We will also build a KSh200 million modern market to boost local trade in Kegonga town," he said. 

In addition, the President said the government will invest KSh150 million in the construction of hostels at Kegonga KMTC to support the training and accommodation of healthcare students.

Later, the President launched the Sondu-Homa Bay electricity transmission line in Ndiwa Constituency, Homa Bay County. 

Governors Ochilo Ayacko (Migori) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) told Nyanza residents to support President Ruto. They described opposition leaders as people who have nothing to offer. 

"It's only President Ruto who has ensured equal development across the country irrespective of how Kenyans voted in the last election," Mr Ayacko said. 

Governor Wanga told former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to stop propagating hatred and tribalism to achieve his selfish ends. 

"Kenya has no room for politics of exclusion and negative ethnicity. Kenyans want leaders focused on unity and development," she said. 

Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), John Mbadi (National Treasury), and Alice Wahome (Lands), National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, and several MPs accompanied the President.