The government has called out Alfred Omenya over his claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta's affordable housing project was just good on paper.
Omenya, during the Nairobi Gubernatorial debate held on Monday, July 11, at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), argued that the Jubilee administration had failed to honour its end of the bargain.
However, in a quick rejoinder, government spokesman, Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, stated that Omenya was misinformed, detailing that the Head of State had achieved a lot in ensuring affordable housing in the country.
The government spokesperson added that Uhuru had undertaken the building of 900,000 houses across the country.
Consequently, Oguna called on the academician to contact the government for the correct data.
"During the post-debate analysis of Nairobi Gubernatorial Debate, one Prof Alfred Omenya, with a straight face stated that 'Jubilee Administration has failed to deliver on housing'. The good Professor did not have his facts correct.
"This is one of the programs that has been delivered beyond expectations. It has now gathered its own momentum, attracting the private sector to move in, thereby, leaving the government to provide facilitation and oversight," read Oguna's statement in part.
While appearing alongside four other panelists in a roundtable discussion hosted by Citizen TV news anchor, Waihiga Mwaura, the architect stated that the government had destroyed more houses during the construction process of the affordable houses.
He defended his sentiments stating that he was well informed as he was doing studies regarding the housing project.
Further, Omenya gave examples of some of the evictions that had been carried out by the government during the construction of the houses.
"Studies that we are doing now show that that the national government planned to do 500,000 houses but destroyed 150,000 houses in the process. In Mukuru, they destroyed 46,000 houses.
"Forget about what they say that is being done in Pangani. They have even delivered 4,000 houses. Basically, the government has been able to deliver negative 140,000 houses," he stated.
The affordable housing project is one of President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy projects under the Big Four Agenda.
