‘He does not mean well for Kenyans’: Gachagua slams Raila for opposing Finance Bill

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga for his opposition to the Finance Bill 2023, which includes the controversial housing fund.

The DP criticised Mr. Odinga for what he described as being oblivious to the plight of Kenyans living in informal settlements.

Gachagua, who was speaking during the closure of the first Kenya Urban Forum held in Naivasha on Friday, said the World Bank has donated Ksh.45 billion to fund the housing program in 45 counties.

The remarks came two days after Members of Parliament overwhelmingly passed the controversial Bill in the Second Reading stage.

“Why would anybody in his right thinking have a problem with slum upgrading? We don’t understand,” said the DP, as he blasted the Azimio leader for what he termed as not meaning well for Kenyans.

“We tried to do slum upgrading housing in Kibera, Mathare...a character who was a leader there for 20 years and did nothing is shouting from the rooftop that we should not do housing…he saw the shame of people using flying toilets,” he said.

Gachagua, while urging Kenyans to rally behind the housing fund, slammed those opposing the program when they own houses in urban centres.

“These characters making noises own homes…wanazuia wengine wasipate nyumba,” said the country’s second-in-command.

The DP defended the housing programme terming it a game changer, stating; “This is in my DNA...the President and I talk housing morning, mchana na usiku kama dawa.”

A total of 77 municipalities in 45 counties are set to benefit from Ksh.45 billion World Bank funding towards improving housing and infrastructure.

The DP lauded the move, noting that the fund was a major boost to the affordable housing programme that seeks to address the housing crisis in the country.

“Now that we have Ksh.45 billion from the World Bank, watado? What are they gonna do? The entire world is saying the future is urban,” he stated.

Gachagua said that as part of addressing the issue of housing, the government has rolled out construction of housing units in major cities and towns across the country.