Ruto's housing pledge to Harambee Stars is a conditional 'gift' - Ichung'wa

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wa has hastily shed light on what President William Ruto meant in his promise to Harambee Stars players on Monday, August 11.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, August 14, Ichung’wa clarified that the President did not mean he would take houses from the Affordable Housing Project and hand them to the players.

Instead, he explained, the Head of State meant he would support the players to acquire homes, but only if they register for the programme.

According to the MP, no one, not even the President, has the authority to give out houses under the scheme. What the President can do, Ichung’wa said, is assist in the process of ownership, for example, by settling deposits.

“The president offered the Harambee Stars players to get affordable housing unit. There is no regulation that allows the president to give you an affordable housing unit. And that is why he asked them to register and then he’ll help them to pay, if for the deposit,” said Ichung’wa.

On Monday, during his address, President William Ruto promised each player Sh1 million and a two-bedroom house under the programme if they triumphed in the quarter-finals.

“Now, on Sunday, I want us to make a new deal. If you triumph at the quarter-finals, you will get Sh1 million and a two-bedroom house at a place of your choice,” noted Ruto.

He went further to assure that if the team reached the finals by winning the semi-finals, the houses would be upgraded to three-bedroom units.

Ichung’wa, however, stressed that the pledge was conditional: the players must first register with the programme to enable the President to support their home ownership.