President William Ruto has come out strongly in defense of the ongoing revamp of Nairobi, saying the capital city must reflect the identity and ambition of the country.
Speaking during a Sunday church service in Kariobangi, Ruto described Nairobi as Kenya’s international front door, the first stop for investors and visitors, and said its current infrastructure must match its status.
“This is the face of our country,” he told the congregation. “When people arrive in Nairobi, they should know that Kenya is a developing, respectable country, peaceful and forward-looking.”
He revealed that the government has earmarked Sh2.1 billion for the upgrade of city roads and has completed the northern collector tunnel to address water shortages in the capital.
Acknowledging Nairobi’s infrastructural shortcomings, the president said the city’s roads and public facilities still lag behind acceptable standards, but affirmed that “measures are in place” to fix them.
Ruto also highlighted other ongoing initiatives under his administration, including the construction of 150,000 affordable housing units and the rollout of 10 new markets. He said these projects are expected to create employment for over 25,000 youths through the government’s Climate Works program.
On health, Ruto praised Nairobi residents and community health promoters for supporting the new Social Health Authority (SHA) program. He said 1.9 million Nairobians had already registered for the new health insurance scheme, which aims to ensure universal access to healthcare.
“No one should have to sell their property to pay hospital bills,” he said, urging those not yet enrolled to register. He added that proper registration would help the government plan the allocation of doctors, medicine, and resources more efficiently.
