President Ruto renames Shauri Moyo housing estate after MP Johana Ng’eno

President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Housing to rename the Shauri Moyo Housing Estate in Nairobi to Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate, in honour of the late Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno who died in a chopper crash last week.

Speaking during the burial ceremony for MP Ng’eno and four other victims at Emurua Dikirr Primary School on Friday, the President said the decision followed recommendations from members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, which was chaired by the deceased legislator.

The Head of State heaped praise on MP Ng’eno’s leadership as the committee chairperson and for his role in supporting the government’s affordable housing programme during a period when the initiative faced stiff opposition and legal battles.

“I’m directing the Ministry of Housing to rename Shauri Moyo Housing Estate to Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate in the city of Nairobi…kwa heshima ya kazi ya ujenzi wa manyumba Mheshimiwa Ng’eno alitoa uongozi wake kama Chairman,” said the President.

Ruto described the affordable housing programme as one of the most transformative initiatives undertaken by his administration, noting that the project had faced significant resistance.

“Kwa sababu mambo ya housing ilikuwa kazi ngumu, watu wengi hawangewezana nayo. Hii programme ya housing imekuwa na kelele na maandamano, tumepelekwa kortini…ilikuwa inahitaji mtu firm kama Chairman,” he said.

He added that despite advice from some leaders to abandon the controversial housing levy, Ng’eno stood firm in supporting the government’s plan.

“Kuna watu wengi waliniambia wachana na mambo ya housing levy, one of them was not Ng’eno. Leo mimi nasimama hapa kwa hii jukwaa kusema housing inabadilisha taifa letu la Kenya,” he said.

The President said the housing programme was already delivering benefits across the country, including development projects linked to the initiative.

“Leo, hapa Emurua Dikirr tunajenga soko ya kisasa ya karibu milioni 70, kwa sababu ya housing. Hiyo tulipanga na Ng’eno. We’re transforming our nation and changing our skyline kwa sababu ya programme ya housing, mwenyekiti (wa kamati) akiwa Johana Ng’eno.”

He further revealed that he intends to recognise members of the housing committee in his memoirs for the role they played in steadying the ship amidst harsh criticism.

“Niliambia hawa watu wa (kamati ya) housing, wakati ntaandika historia yangu, nitawapa chapter mzima kwa sababu ya ile kazi wamenisaidia kufanya kwa ile programme ya housing,” said Ruto.

The President noted that the estate being renamed is one of the largest housing developments in Nairobi.

“Hawa wanakamati wamependekeza kwamba one of the biggest estates in Nairobi yenye iko na nyumba 4,500 inaitwa Shauri Moyo…wamependekeza kwangu kwamba hiyo estate kubwa iko Nairobi iitwe Johana Ng’eno Boma Yangu Estate,” said the Head of State.

During the same event, the President also pledged government support for the establishment of a campus of Maasai Mara University in Emurua Dikirr as had been requested by Ng’eno.

“Bwana (Governor Patrick Ole) Ntutu, ntakutafutia milioni ishirini, utafute shamba ya kujenga university ambayo itatosha. Tafadhali panga, in the next two to three weeks, iwe imekamilika,” he said.

Ruto further instructed Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga to facilitate funding for the project.

“Alafu PS Hinga, nishamwambia tayari ya kwamba tutatoa pesa ya serikali shilingi mia saba na hamsini ya kuanzisha hiyo university na kujenga hostels. Mimi mwenyewe nitakuja kufanya groundbreaking ya hiyo university, na mimi nataka tufanye hiyo kazi kwa haraka ndio nirudi hapa before July ndio Watoto wa hapa na Watoto wa Kenya wapate mahali pa kusoma masomo ya juu.”