Raila Odinga Donates Land for Ruto’s Affordable Housing Project in Kisumu

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Raila Odinga Donates Land for Ruto’s Affordable Housing Project in Kisumu

KISUMU, Kenya — In a significant gesture of bipartisan cooperation, Azimio la Umoja leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has donated five acres of land in Kisumu to the Government of Kenya for the construction of affordable housing units. The announcement was made by President William Ruto on Thursday, May 29, during the launch of a new phase of the national Affordable Housing Programme in the lakeside city.

Speaking during his official tour of the Nyanza region, President Ruto confirmed that the donated land would facilitate the construction of 750 new housing units aimed at easing the housing burden for local residents. “Today, I have come to Kisumu with Raila to launch another affordable housing program, through which we will build 750 additional houses,” President Ruto said. “Raila Odinga has given us five acres of his land so that we can build affordable housing for the people of Kisumu to benefit. On behalf of the Government of Kenya, I thank Raila for donating the land to us.”

This development marks a rare moment of cooperation between the two political heavyweights who have often been at opposing ends of Kenya’s political spectrum. The donation, viewed as a goodwill gesture by Odinga, comes as President Ruto embarks on a multi-day tour of Nyanza, which includes project launches and culminating in leading the country’s Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled to be held in Homa Bay County.

The Affordable Housing Programme has been one of President Ruto’s signature policy initiatives since he assumed office in September 2022. It aims to construct at least 250,000 housing units annually across the country to provide low-cost, quality housing for middle- and low-income Kenyans. However, the initiative has not been without controversy. Critics have questioned the transparency of the project, the feasibility of the implementation strategies, and the prioritization of resources amidst a constrained national budget.

Interestingly, Raila Odinga has previously asserted that the Affordable Housing Programme was originally conceptualized under the Azimio la Umoja manifesto during the 2022 general election campaign. In an interview conducted on February 4, 2025, Odinga stated, “Affordable Housing is not bad. In fact, we had it in our Azimio manifesto. They (Kenya Kwanza) did not have it. They happen to have copied it from us. We appreciate that shelter is among the five basics stipulated in the constitution.”

Despite his support for the core idea of affordable housing, Odinga has not shied away from critiquing the manner in which the Ruto administration is executing the program. In the same interview, he emphasized the need for strategic planning and community engagement, expressing concerns over displacement and uniform architectural designs. “There ought to be decanting sites for people to settle before they are displaced from the areas where the houses are built,” he noted.

Odinga further argued for a more flexible and inclusive model of implementation: “It should not be the case of one-size-fits-all, that you have one design all over. In other places, you would build bungalows; in other areas, the citizens partner with the government by giving land and labour, and the government avails materials, and the construction work is done by the people.”

The Kisumu project is part of a broader government agenda to stimulate development and reduce inequality in historically marginalized areas. The housing units are expected to create jobs, increase access to decent shelter, and stimulate local economies through the construction supply chain. For Kisumu, this project could potentially serve as a model for public-private collaboration, where local stakeholders, including political leaders, work with national government agencies to fast-track infrastructural growth.

The symbolic significance of Raila Odinga’s contribution cannot be overstated. His decision to donate personal land to a program spearheaded by a rival administration could signal a shift towards more issue-based cooperation in Kenyan politics, where development priorities take precedence over partisan divides. It also sends a strong message to his supporters about the importance of contributing to national development regardless of political affiliations.

From a political standpoint, this move may also help cool tensions that have historically existed between the national government and the opposition-leaning Nyanza region. As President Ruto continues his tour of the area, the cooperative gesture from Odinga provides a welcome opportunity for dialogue and mutual respect. This could potentially pave the way for greater integration of Nyanza into national development programs and more inclusive governance going forward.

Government officials have widely praised the donation and the renewed focus on affordable housing. Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, speaking to local media, described the land donation as “an exemplary act of leadership” and confirmed that feasibility studies and architectural planning for the Kisumu project would begin immediately.

Local residents expressed cautious optimism about the announcement. Jane Achieng, a Kisumu trader, said, “We hope this project is not just a political statement. If these houses are truly affordable and help reduce the rent burden, then it will be a big help for people like us.” Others emphasized the need for transparency and local hiring in the construction process to ensure that the benefits are felt on the ground.

As the government forges ahead with its Affordable Housing Programme, the partnership between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu could become a watershed moment in Kenya’s development narrative. While challenges remain — including funding constraints, logistical hurdles, and public skepticism — the demonstration of unity by two of the country’s most influential leaders has the potential to lend credibility and momentum to the initiative.

President Ruto is expected to unveil more projects in Homa Bay and Kisumu counties over the next several days, culminating in the national celebration of Madaraka Day. All eyes will be on whether the bipartisan tone set in Kisumu can be sustained and replicated across other regions and sectors.

For now, the five-acre land donation stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when leadership transcends politics and focuses squarely on the people’s welfare.

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Raila Odinga Donates Land for Ruto’s Affordable Housing Project in Kisumu