Ruto Unveils New Police Housing in Kilimani, Says Youth Jobs Plan Is On Track
President William Ruto has defended his administration’s response to unemployment, saying the crisis existed long before he took office. He spoke Tuesday during an inspection of the Kilimani Police Housing Project, where 542 affordable housing units are under construction as part of the national plan to improve law enforcement living conditions and expand job creation.
“Unemployment didn’t begin with my government,” Ruto said. “The reason the problem has persisted is that there was no proper plan. Now, we have one.”
The Kilimani project includes a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments, designed to house police officers in modern, dignified conditions. The site will also feature a commercial center, a hospital, a social hall, a gym, an early childhood education center, and housing for support staff.
Of the 542 units, 88 will be studio apartments, 86 will be one-bedroom homes, 176 two-bedroom, and 192 three-bedroom. The development, under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), is projected to be completed in 45 months. The project is expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Ruto said improving police housing is part of his broader mission to reform public service and address historical gaps in infrastructure. “We will not stop until we raise the living standards of our officers. Too many are living in old, unsuitable quarters at police posts,” he said.
He also addressed unemployment among Kenya’s youth, pushing back on critics linking recent protests to joblessness.
“Some leaders are inciting youth under the pretense of fighting unemployment,” he said. “But burning property doesn’t create jobs. This government is focused on structured job creation not chaos.”
Ruto listed programs his administration has implemented, including the Affordable Housing Programme, which he said has already employed over 320,000 Kenyans. He cited an additional 400,000 in overseas jobs and nearly 200,000 working in the digital space.
“We now have a system where young engineers, plumbers, technicians, and masons are working,” he said. “This is the kind of strategy the country lacked for decades.”
He urged young people not to be swayed by political agitation. “Jobs are created through planning, investment, and structure not violence,” he said.
Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, who accompanied the President on the tour, echoed his sentiments. “We must reject destruction and choose productivity. The youth should not allow themselves to be exploited,” she said.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga added that the Kilimani project reflects the government’s plan to extend decent housing not only to the police but also to military and prison officers.
Officials emphasized that the project would also support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including Jua Kali artisans, who will supply materials and labor to the construction.
Ruto concluded by linking the housing initiative to the broader agenda of national development. “We are doing this to raise the quality of life for our men and women in uniform, and at the same time, create economic opportunities across the country,” he said.
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