President William Ruto, on Thursday 27, announced that as the Commander in Chief, he planed to incorporate the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in Nairobi and its environs.
KDF will move to safeguard Nairobi and its environs, a decision that was ratified after he met the military officers.
He, however, did not clarify when the meeting took place, whether they would join agencies or work with the Nairobi County Government. He also did not indicate when the officers would be deployed.
"Because I am the Commander in Chief, KDF soldiers know they are Kenyans and the roles they play in Nairobi," he stated.
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"They will improve and develop areas such as Kamukunji, Kiambiu, and Eastleigh," he added.
Ruto, who launched the affordable housing project at Shauri Moyo, also criticised the opposition for their continued public antics.
"We will not go the way they want, our plan is set. We will provide our people with jobs and digitise the system," he declared.
He assured that the first Kenyans to acquire affordable housing would be those in Kiambiu. Ruto noted that it was not right for the 30,000 Kenyans living in poverty at the heart of Nairobi.
The President further directed the Cabinet Secretary for Land Zachary Njeru and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to ensure that residents of Kiambiu get good housing.
"It is a mistake to have an estate in Nairobi where the residents have no water, electricity, road, hospital, or school. This situation will change," he assured.
Earlier, Ruto had expressed dissatisfaction with the military running state operations in the country, especially in the capital run by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) under General Mohamed Badi. The President and his allies claimed that his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, was militarizing the nation.
Among Badi's achievements were repairing and building new roads, hospitals and markets. He also repaired urban roads and drilled boreholes in slums.
The military general also refurbished Nairobi and constructed pedestrian and cycle lanes.
"Residents in our informal settlements used to pay almost Ks40 daily to buy two jerrycans of water, but look at what is happening now.
"With the boreholes they get water regularly and free,” Uhuru stated and also praised the military for refurbishing vehicles at a lower fee and curbing corruptions. Cartels, he argued, inflated prices to exploit tenders and earn kickbacks.
After assuming office, Ruto, reversed some of the Executive Orders Uhuru issued. Among them was KDF managing the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC).
