Ruto Urges Global Leaders to Embrace Affordable Housing as a Pillar of Social Justice

By Emmaculate Cheruto 

President William Ruto has called on world leaders to prioritize affordable housing as a key driver of social justice, economic inclusion, and poverty eradication. Speaking during the United Nations Social Development Summit in Doha, Qatar, the Kenyan Head of State said that affordable housing should not be viewed merely as an infrastructure project, but as a moral and social imperative.

“Our Affordable Housing Programme is delivering much-needed shelter while at the same time creating jobs and fostering inclusion,” President Ruto said. “Housing is not just an infrastructure initiative but a social justice imperative.”

Ruto highlighted Kenya’s Affordable Housing Programme as a model that is already transforming lives, noting that more than 23,000 housing units are under construction across the country. The initiative has so far created over 320,000 jobs, opening opportunities for artisans, contractors, and small businesses.

He urged other nations to invest in similar people-centred programmes that can lift citizens out of poverty, reduce inequality, and expand economic opportunities — core goals of the UN’s social development agenda.

Kenya’s Transformation Agenda

President Ruto also used the global platform to showcase the progress of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying it is beginning to yield tangible results in key sectors such as education, digital work, health, and social protection.

He noted that the government’s mass teacher recruitment programme has seen 76,000 new teachers hired over the past three years, with a target of 100,000 teachers by January 2026. In addition, the expansion of technical and vocational training institutions is equipping more youth with practical skills for employment.

In healthcare, Ruto reported a dramatic rise in medical insurance coverage from 8 million to over 27 million Kenyans, underscoring the administration’s efforts to enhance universal health access.

The President also lauded the success of the Hustler Fund, which he said has disbursed Sh80 billion to 26.7 million people, with nine million becoming repeat borrowers and five million regaining formal creditworthiness.

On job creation, Ruto revealed that more than 400,000 Kenyans have secured employment abroad, including 70,000 in Qatar, while two million youths have received digital skills training, enabling 300,000 to access online jobs.

Call for Renewed Global Solidarity

While celebrating these milestones, President Ruto cautioned that global solidarity in advancing social development has weakened. He called for renewed cooperation among nations to address pressing challenges such as rising inequality, debt distress, and global crises.

“We must resist the temptation to retreat inward,” he urged. “The United Nations must remain the foremost guardian of peace, but also a catalyst for prosperity and a champion of human dignity.”

Ruto concluded by calling on world leaders to recommit to eradicating poverty, creating decent jobs, and strengthening social inclusion.

The two-day UN Social Development Summit brings together heads of state and government, global agencies, development partners, and civil society groups to chart a shared path toward inclusive and equitable global growth.