NAIROBI, Kenya — Moses Kuria has defended the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, citing Singapore’s transformation under its founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as an example of the challenges that accompany major housing reforms.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday morning, Kuria referenced Lee’s memoir, From Third World to First: Singapore 1965–2000, arguing that moving people from informal settlements and villages into modern housing often requires significant social and cultural adjustment.
“The Founder of Modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, in his memoirs From Third World to First, Singapore 1965–2000 narrates about moving Singaporeans from villages (Kampongs) and slums to apartments when he came up with the affordable housing program,” Kuria wrote.
According to Kuria, Lee documented how some residents initially struggled to adapt to apartment living, with some attempting to keep livestock such as pigs, chickens and ducks in their new homes, while others avoided using elevators, continued relying on kerosene lamps despite having electricity or operated small businesses from their flats.
“Lee described this as ‘culture shock’ and emphasized that the transition was not merely about new housing—it required a complete change in lifestyle and habits,” Kuria said.
He concluded his post with a direct message to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, writing:
“Good morning, H.E. Edwin Watenya Sifuna.”
Response to Sifuna’s Remarks
Kuria’s comments came after Sifuna questioned the government’s housing agenda during an interview on Citizen TV, arguing that development priorities should be tailored to the needs of individual communities rather than applying a uniform national approach.
Using Busia County as an example, Sifuna said residents would benefit more from investments in healthcare and education than from housing projects.
“President William Ruto claims he’s trying to eliminate slums. What slums was he eliminating in Funyula? The priorities of the people in the area mean something, and you have to listen to them. If you spoke to the people of Busia, they would rather that concrete and steel was used in expanding the Busia hospital, doing schools and other things, because that is their priority,” Sifuna said.
The Nairobi senator also argued that the Affordable Housing Programme should ultimately be assessed based on whether it improves living conditions in informal settlements.
“He should be telling us that because of this taxation, I’ve closed one slum in Mathare or Mukuru Kwa Njenga and those people who were living there are now in these high-rise buildings. Then we would listen to him,” he said.
